Still Water Moment

Last night I enjoyed a Still Water Moment. That's my term for those unexpected, out of the blue times where you feel - really get that electifying, magical sense - of God's nearness.

I was having a miserable night. I had nearly recovered from a bad cold, but I was re-lapsing into that same cold. I was sniffly and feverish. And I couldn't sleep because my daughter was fighting a cold, too. She was coughing and sneezing and just as miserable as I was. After nearly three hours up and down tending to her with drinks of water, kleenex, and cold medicine (not to mention having to feed my baby boy a bottle and get him back to sleep), I had just about reached my limit (I was letting my wife sleep as she wasn't feeling well either).

That's when I remembered that I had forgotten to put the trash can out on the road for pick up. They roll past our house every Thursday morning at 6:00 am! So at 4:00 in the morning, I got up, put on flip flops and a heavy winter coat (over my red and white heart PJs with xx's and oo's all over them that my wife gave me). I tossed the trash into the big rolling can and stepped outside.

That's when the Lord met me: my Still Water Moment, as I dragged the trash can out to the road. It was moonbright and there were a million stars shining through our tall pine trees. There was a cool - not cold - breeze blowing and the trees were swaying around me. I stood still there in the middle of our driveway for a good little while.

No words of mine can do that moment justice. It felt magical in a Narnia kind of way. It was like I had walked into the middle of an unseen angelic worship time. Actually, my first thought was of our old friend Jan who went on to be with the Lord many years ago. I thought of her tombstone that says, "the nearness of God is my good". I felt that sweet nearness. My spirit wanted to linger there but my sniffly nose needed to get back in. And as I walked back inside and headed back upstairs I felt like God was telling me that He is with me always, not just during the Still Water Moments, but even when I'm sick and caring for my sick little one.

And writing this, I'm reminded of something he spoke to my heart several years ago. Maybe He will speak to someone else as they read this. He said:

"I am with you.
I am for you.
I've not forgotten you.
And I'm not through with you."

Amen