Genesis 28:16

Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!”

Lord, I know You are here.

I know You are here

even when I cannot feel You.

I know Your presence

never leaves me.

I know Your presence,

Your spirit fills me.

Sometimes, I think it is Your essence

I recognize in that sweet earthly smell

that erupts from the ground after a rain.

Sometimes, I think it is Your touch

that I feel when the wind carries

that fine mist across the water

and drapes itself like a prayer shawl

across my shoulders.

I hear You, Lord.  I hear Your own prayer.

I hear You in the buzz of that fat, old bumblebee

gathering its morning harvest.

I hear You in the zip of the dragonfly

as it stops and darts and hovers

and finally settles on the lily pad.

Even in the silence, Lord,

when all I can hear is the pounding

of the blood in my ears,

and the rush of the air as I breathe,

when the only things that speak to me

are the creak of my back,

and the groaning of my heart,

and the tears begging to be freed,

even then, Lord, Your song

soars within me, and the hymn

You sing is one word … live.

And the refrain is simply … breathe.

You are here, Lord.

and I pray I feel Your presence

with every waking breath.

Amen.