Awareness, awareness, awareness!

So there I was… my last day of vacation sitting dockside on the Colorado River way before the sun made its appearance. I was dreading the necessity of having to go back to reality where bills stack high, gas prices soar and problems abound. As an A-typical worry-wart, I was lamenting my decision even to have left those problems behind. On that sour note I began asking the Lord if I should leave early or enjoy one more day in paradise.

My answer came so quickly I was stunned, and may I say, confused. I heard a beckoning to look at the sky. So I looked up and saw a beyond spectacular bursting sunrise. Radiant pinks and purples turned iridescent thunderclouds into a kaleidoscope of rainbow sherbet looking fluff. I sat silently amazed as these clouds paraded merrily across the heavens, which caused me to naturally fall into a stance of thanking and praising God for such a spectacle. Wow! What a showoff!

Then, insipidly, like a lethal poison, problems I needed to face began creeping into my consciousness and I began my pathetic whine to the Lord. Once again I heard look at the sky. So continued my disturbing thought patterns followed by the same response until the sun broke ferociously over the volcanic rocks causing the clouds to become complacent and the temperatures to rise well over 100 degrees before 8am.

Maybe I just need a little inspiration, I thought to myself. So I opened my new Max Lucado book, “The Great House of God,” to where I left off the day before. And this is what I read: “Now as you stand in the observatory viewing God’s workmanship let me pose a few questions. If he is able to place the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain, do you think it remotely possible that God is able to guide your life? If your God is mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it be that he is mighty enough to light your path? Is there an outside chance that he cares enough about you to meet your needs? Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, ‘Do you like it? I did it just for you.”’

Needless to say, I didn’t pack up and leave. Instead, I spent precious time with my son, swimming in the cool emerald green river, soaking in God’s grace and trusting that he was in charge. All I needed to do was become aware once again of his presence in my life listening to him as he was speaking softly to my heart.

Spiritual leaders agree and I am totally convinced to look for God in every way possible: prayer, living in a community of believers, soaking in scripture and by obeying his commands. As Anthony DeMello stated, we need to “wake up, wake up, wake up” to the ever present presence of God.