I continue to be captured by the image of “God rising unbidden on the dawn.” What does it mean? What does it mean to me?

Tonight I led a stilling about being aware, listening to the invitation to come as we are, paying attention to the hunger of our moments, the desires to live “freely, lightly in the unforced rhythms of grace” as Peterson says in Matthew 11. Margaret Silf writes of stormy seas where the wind whips the water and the water responds with great slaps and pulls. Yet underneath, ten feet down, stillness prevails.

It’s the centered awareness of the presence of God always there. His spaciousness: “Be still and know that I am God” “cease striving and find me abundantly available in tight places” (Psalm 46). Presence so vast and so deep that we struggle to take him in and so we must be silent. Silent to watch, silent to listen, silent being with him. Isn’t the quietest part of the night, just before dawn? Is this when God too is silent, yet gathering himself to stand on the rays of the sun?

I wonder and it captures me. I want to stand with God on the rays of the sun. I want to be taken beyond my ability to see, letting go of that which would keep me in dark. And I bet you do too.

May God awaken us all to the hunger and desires that wondering brings. To us he says, “Blessed are those who hunger…they shall be filled.”

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Thank you for responding to last week’s post about what it’s been like for you to receive these blogs. Your words have been kind and deeply encouraging.

For June through August, we are going to offer the blog once a week on Tuesdays. In September, it may be reimagined into a different offering after a short renovation. But it will continue in some way.

Many thanks again for your encouragement to us. You make a difference for us.

Warmly,

Jeanni Shepherd