Space to Pray

            As the rising sun cast white rays through a silver sky, I was led to this Word as I tried to pray.

“When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6)

            Space is what I’ve seen. In towering cliffs, majestic mountains, endless horizons, carpets of prairie grass, and stratified canyons, the expanse of space is everywhere.  Nothing formed in this wild land is too big to take up the space. There is always more beyond.

            How does one go to a “room” here to pray and be with the Father? How could He see me in this sweeping landscape? South Dakota surely holds His creational secrets; mine are so insignificant. I am stunned by its vastness and feel very small. Can Almighty God who created this wild beauty even notice my plaintiff cry for His Presence?

            “When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8: 3-4)

            Yet, God the Creator of the universe is mindful of every detail big and small, even me as I try to find words to describe the grandeur He made by His Word alone. So I pray in the secret place of my soul thanking Him for showing me His Glory.

            I feel the trembling joy – “See that which I created with my Holy utterance! Look deep into the flat, sprawling, rolling, jagged expanse of country you travel. Wonder, marvel, absorb, and inhale every inch. Worship Me! This journey has purpose – you must see what I show you. Open the eyes of your heart and ear of your soul to hear the Holy Spirit speak as He leads you in every place. It all came from my Word. Behold what the Invisible created. You will seek Me in this place and find Me. Pray and worship. Your  “room” is now.”

            Above needles of rock piercing the sky, beyond cavernous crags cut deep in the earth, and over mountains shadowing more mountains, I sense what John saw and wrote of in the Revelation –“The face of God is the sun shining in full strength.” In palpable stillness, prairie lands reach for eternity, whispering and waving peace beyond understanding. In the fullness of South Dakota there is an overpowering stillness. It would be fearsome if not for its majesty and the signature of its Creator.

            “The dwelling place of God is with man.” (Revelation 21:3)

            This is a glimpse of the Glory of God – His Word in reality too big, powerful, and wondrous to describe. No words here. Only worship. 

Memory Game Alive

           With the kids and their Moms crammed into the living room, we agreed unanimously to play, “Pack Your Suitcase”. You know the memory game where each person adds something to travel with, but has to repeat the contents added by the previous “travelers”. The trip was to be on a cruise to “Mommom’s House.” Now that’s exactly where we were – six of our ten grandkids, our three daughters and me, my heart bursting after the Memorial Week end we had celebrated together. This was the night before they all were to depart, so the game was appropriate, I suppose.

            In our imaginary suitcases we stuffed a football (Childers), colored calligraphy pens and pencils (Josselyn and Sadie), a horse (Meredith), Boo-Boo the ten year old stuffed rabbit (Hunter), a twenty-year old afghan (Leslie), Smartphone (Kerith), running shoes (Robin), and my Bible. Then we added a variety of treasures – my dog, Meredith’s riding stick, Leslie’s Ninja, Hunter’s droid, a bike, a camera, and so forth. I did well with a few hints and lots of eyes rolling, but found myself lagging behind as my memory drifted into stories. Soon I couldn’t keep up with my giggling competitors. I imagined Boo-Boo under Hunter’s arm as Meredith corralled her horse onto the great ship. How fun it would be to take this crew on a cruise together! My mind played as I was skipped by and the game went on.

            I am a Story Maker. It is hard for me to focus for long because my mind easily wanders and quickly bumps into my imagination. Away we go, hand in hand with metaphors, symbolisms, and a cargo of memories. I especially love God Stories, those wonderful real life times when God intercedes and creates His own story. I look for Him everywhere.

            In less than a week I am about to embark on a real trip, traveling not on a ship, but a truck bed made into our home on wheels. In this motorhome I must pack everything my husband and I will need for a 92-day journey across 22 states. We are going West to see the great USA! How do I pack for three seasons and 8,000 miles? This has been the challenge. For once I cannot imagine what is ahead. I do know our dog, Sophie will be with us, as well as my pillow, coffee, oatmeal cookies, bandages, and three-months’ supply of cosmetics, shampoo, and pens. My husband has meticulously checked and recharged all of the RV systems, procured a supply of tools, tubes, and technical paraphernalia for emergencies, and the cooler with beer, wine, soda, and water. We will pack our food and clothes this weekend. Monday I will load my books, and Tuesday I will pick up my backpack in one arm, my Bible in the other, and shut the door of home, not to return until Thanksgiving.

            Life would be so much easier if I could just stay in my living room and play the memory game.  But placed before me there are stories to be found, and I want to remember them all! Travel tales of sights, folks, food, adventure, and quite possibly a mishap or two. Not long ago I think I heard God whisper, “ I have so much to show you! I made it all long ago and with you in mind!”

            I plan to share my stories along the way. Surely if God, the Master Creator, has something to show, we need to see it together!