I’ve been considering my place in the universe. Does God really care about the individual, or is He more occupied with nations and tribes and families? Does He see the individual, hear one’s cries, know our secret desires & longings?

Growing up in western Christian culture, the emphasis has always been on Jesus as “my personal Savior.” With all that has been going on in our world (war, violent crime, pandemic, racial tension, murder hornets, complicated politics) I have been pondering the moves of God on the earth on a grand scale and can’t help but think something big is going on. I’ve been trying to be mindful and alert to the Holy Spirit; I don’t want to get lost in the ‘trees,’ so to speak, and miss the ‘forest.’

But last night, I finished watching Hamilton and then peeked outside at 10:30. The sky was radiant with stars! I was tender since the forgiveness scene between Eliza and Alexander Hamilton, and I could feel the Lord drawing me close to Himself, come be with Me and let me show you something. I grabbed my phone and binoculars and had an intimate hour with my personal Lord, the One who does indeed care about the individual and also moves among the times and the nations.

The night was full of stars with satellites whizzing across them (I saw 3!) and a duet of owls with a supporting cast of crickets all around. It was stunning in every way and I felt like it was just for me, the geeky nature-loving nana who would take time to lay down in the dark and wait.

I read John 11:28 this morning about Mary of Bethany as she was grieving the death of her brother Lazarus, “the Teacher is here and He is asking for you,” her sister Martha said. How beautiful. I thought about how many people are willing to take God up on His offer of fellowship when He comes by...He is Spirit, and He must be sought out. Will I be ready when He is ‘here?’ Those opportunities come infrequently and I want to be ready to say yes because He might just keep on moving until He finds one who is ready.