"Behold, I am with you

and will keep you

    wherever you go..."

Then Jacob awoke

           from his sleep

and said,

"Surely the LORD

      is in this place,

and I did not know it."

          Genesis 28. 15-16

(In the dark and scary places,

even in the most unexpected

   details and developments,

on the rocky paths

      and strange rabbit trails,

we realize

     the Presence of God.

We are distracted and

      overwhelmed by

circumstances, discomfort,

inconvenience,

and sometimes,

      hard stones as pillows.

But He is here,

          right with us.

What in the world

   am I doing here?

Did I take a wrong turn?

Did God make a mistake?

But in those shadows,

God reveals Himself:

  "I am with you.

   Even in this place.

   Now watch this...")

O LORD,

Help us to not just be

       aware of You,

but in awe of You

  and what You are doing,

far beyond our eyesight,

far beyond our lifetimes.

Your Presence is with us,

    a reality not just a feeling.

May we not just be

           mindful of You

but have the mind of Christ

as we walk into

          Your day for us.

Help us see things differently.

   because we know You.