God, Parking and a Bit of Travel

Although I haven't taken the opportunity to post a favorite five for the last few Fridays, I am reminded of what it does in my spirit of thankfulness to find those thing each week.

Thank you to Susanne for continuing to keep us challenged and encouraged in this.

There are times in life where it is not difficult to experience God in the everyday. Where His presence is felt in each moment in my heart.

To be honest, that has not been the case recently. I have heard it expressed by others that they seem to be in a similar place as well.

I am being reminded that feelings can not be trusted. I am in a season where I must rely on what I know to be true, NOT what I feel to be true.

However, I am also being reminded that as I ask God to reveal Himself, and as I consciously look for Him, He does just that. Some may call moments such as these coincidence, I call them God choosing to remind a lonely, tired, trembling heart that He has not left me to journey alone.

I made a day trip this last week that was required for my job. As I was beginning what was to be a very full and busy day, I made one simple request as I drove to the airport. I asked for God to reveal Himself to me in some way. To give my heart a reminder that He is still ever mindful of this place that I find myself in.

As I began looking and being willing to see even the smallest of things, I saw five ways in which He answered my prayer.

1. Parking at the Terminal: I had to catch a flight at noon and knew my scheduled return wasn't until midnight that night. For safety reasons, I wanted to find a parking spot as close to the airport as possible. However, with our airport servicing many daily commuter flier's, I knew the chances were very slim as they would have all arrived and parked much sooner in the day.

God knew... On my first trip through the parking garage, there was a spot as close as I could possibly get to the airport. I had to walk a bit once in the airport, but figured that was much safer than having to walk a bit outside. I had parking right next to the airport!

2. Parking at the Event: I had hoped to find another person going to the conference that I was attending, as upon registration I had been told parking was very limited and carpooling was encouraged. I found no one to carpool with, which meant I needed to rent a car and hope for a space to park.

God knew... Not only did I find a space to park, but once again a spot as close to the building as possible!

3. Vending Machines: There was nothing to eat quickly at the airport and time was of the essence so I could be as early as possible to find a parking spot. (see #2) I figured I'd pull off of the interstate quick on my way and grab something. There were no signs for anything. Once I arrived at my destination, I had not eaten anything except my yogurt that morning and it was already 2 in the afternoon. I was hungry and needed something... anything. A headache was quickly coming on.

God knew... After doing a bit of walking around, I found a vending machine. Not what I had in mind but it was something. It even had peanuts which I knew would be a source of protein and help hold me over until food would be provided at the conference later that evening.

4. Earlier flight: I arrived at the airport exhausted and just ready to be home. My original flight was not to leave until 11 PM. I checked in 45 minutes before a 9 PM flight. They told me the plane was currently boarding but if I hurried I might catch it. I rushed through security and ran through the airport. One destination in mind, Gate D6.

God knew... I made it to the gate just as the plane had finished loading and they were boarding standby's. I was on the earlier flight. I made it home and was crawling into bed at the same time my original plane was loading and preparing to take off. It was still late... but not as late as planned. Two hours of rest gained in my favor.

5. Space and Quiet: Life has been quite busy and noisy in my spirit recently. Personal exhaustion and overwhelming-ness have lingered since the recent illnesses in our home.

God knew... Both the flight to my destination and the return flight, I was able to have a row all to myself. I had the time to spend in quiet. Reflecting. Praying. Listening. Time just being...
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How often I must miss God revealing Himself in the midst of my days. I so often look for the loud, the grand, the majestic, the profound. And yet, I wonder if God isn't more often found in the simple, the basic, the quiet, the daily-ness of it all... a gentle whisper.

I Kings 19:11b-12 (NLT) "The Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper."

I head into my weekend, not necessarily feeling anything different, but more mindful and aware of the small things. The things, that if I would just consciously notice, would reveal a God who remains involved in even the littlest details of my day. A God who chooses to whisper His love, mercy, and grace. If I would only quiet myself and pause long enough to recognize it...