In Position

Yesterday morning, I went for a run in the mountains of Buchanan before heading back home from Colin's aunt's house. This is absolutely one of my favorite places and our events of the weekend left little time to take it in. If you've ever seen a mother dog fret while trying to reach one of her distanced puppies, there was a similar restlessness inside of me itching to get to outdoors. I had to go at least once before heading home. As if to stockpile serenity within- who knew when this opportunity might come again?

So, I ran with phone in tow, stopping here and there to snap pictures, looking at flowers, or to let a speeding car pass by.  I passed a bridge that went over train tracks and the river. I passed landings and swimming holes that we frequent, farmlands and pastures and old abandoned houses, another bridge....

About 2 miles in, I came upon another set of tracks. I thought it might be the perfect place to sit by the river and wait with God. Maybe I'd catch a glimpse of a train and feel the rush of its mighty wind as it blew by, I thought to myself. I am not sure if I wanted the train more for myself or the kids. But there I waited 30 minutes or more. Taking pictures, praying and admiring...

Finally, I knew it was time to head back. I wanted to get home early enough to spend time with the family before the week began. I dusted my britches and started running back home. I passed the first farm and there I could hear it in the distance. The train. It was coming.  I looked back and the tracks were far away. Would I be able to make it?

Coach Perrin, my middle school track coach, reminded the 7th-grade version of myself that I was a sprinter. And so I sprinted, as hard and as fast as I could back to the tracks, trying to outrun it. Oh, it sounded so close. I kept looking through the trees but could not see it yet. Faster and harder, fumbling with my phone, trying to get the video ready so that I could capture it's rushing by, in case I barely made it.

But I made it.

I hit the gravel platform and suddenly realized how hungry I was. I thought for sure I would collapse before I saw it come around the corner. Oh, the irony of making it this far just to pass out. But I didn't.

Louder and louder it grew and I was ready. I positioned myself to what I thought was the perfect place for this moment. -Still peeking between trees and back to the tracks.

A truck passed in front of me and went over the tracks I thought for sure the lights would come on soon, warning other drivers. But when the truck passed, the train was gone. Dead silence, like an empty stare blinking back at me from the forest.

As if the train came but was only a ghost, passing before my very eyes. I was confused. How did it do that? Where did it go? 

Then I realized, it must've gone down the other set of tracks that I crossed over earlier.

Overlooking the first set of tracks

I half chuckled, half snorted as I dropped my head and headed back home. Immediately, I thought of the verse in 1 Kings 19 when the Lord appears to Elijah. In verse 11 The Lord said,

“Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

And it was there that he had his encounter.

Isn't my experience with the train, just like trying to hear a Word from God sometimes? We run, full thrust and arms open toward the things with the 'most noise' like activities, studies and group outings. -You know,  in all of those places where he has been seen and would most likely be again. Sometimes, without listening for the direction. He sweeps by- maybe we see it or notice it.... and sometimes we feel as though we've danced everywhere else around it.

I was feeling thankful because, in the few moments of quietly waiting on the track earlier (the first time, before the train), I did feel like I had a moment with God. It came in the whisper, just like with Elijah. In the quiet and in the stillness, roadside on a dirty bridge overlooking the river. Just like our theme 'Be Still' from the Extraordinary Women's Conference that I attended on Saturday. It was after all, what brought me to the mountains in the first place.

Heading back home I ran a little slower, walking even, trying to make the most of what was left. As I made it almost back to the second bridge, I could hear the train again in the distance. This time, at the tracks where I so patiently waited before. This time, I laughed. Whether or not it was God and/or if He was displaying a sense of humor, there is no doubt that He is everywhere we are...

Are we in the right position to see Him?

Picture of theme poster from the conference

***

If you are not sure how to hear from God, I can assure you that there are 3 things that play a significant role in your 'hearing'.  Your salvation, reading scripture and being 'still' with the Lord. Without those 3, I've missed it time and again. If you'd' like to read more, please see this collection of notes I've made over the years. It's not to be interpreted as 'rules'. It's also not glossed over and made pretty. It's just some notes between friends. Whatever item(s) speak to you are the places that I would tell you to start. But take your time with those things. I promise, it is worth your investment. His Word will indeed be something you treasure. Blessings to you!