I am not sure when it started, that is my love of nature. I love sunrises and sunsets, the beauty of lakes and oceans, trees, mountains, clouds and dogs. Today, I am thinking about clouds. I was that kid who would lie on the grass, arms folded behind my head and look up at the sky watching the clouds float by, picking out shapes and watching the ever-changing sky. I still do…well not stretched out on the grass anymore cause not so sure I could get up. By now you are asking what does this have to do with God Nudges…
I feel, God Nudges can be encouraging you to serve in a new way, an answer to prayer, reassurance/comfort. In one of the blogs, I spoke of working as a Parish Nurse (Faith Community Nurse). I was on staff at Grand Rapids Aldersgate, Grand Rapids First and Wyoming Park. One of my favorite parts of the job was assisting in pastoral care. One Sunday morning, the pastor came up to me just before worship and told me he was just notified that one of beloved members was in his last hours here on earth and asked me to go to his bedside now. Of course I would. Getting into my car, I suddenly became a bit nervous…I had never been in this role before. Oh, I had been with dying patients before from infants to the elderly but for some reason this seemed different. I couldn’t explain it. It was a very dark morning outside. The sky was black with a storm brewing, ready to open up from the skies any moment. I prayed I would get there in time and my words would offer comfort. And suddenly there it was before be as I drove down the highway. It was like someone took a saw and cut a big square hole in the black sky… behind the black sky was a beautiful blue sky with sunbeams pouring out from the square hole. I took a deep breath, felt my nerves leave and deep sense of calm fill me. In our darkness there is Light…look up to the Light.
Recently, I was going for a walk, something I do twice a day in an effort to get 10,000 steps per day. You know…caring for body, mind and spirit. On these walks, I don’t listen to music. I don’t walk with my head down (unless it is icy). I look around me – looking at the clouds, praying for the people in the homes I pass, listening to the birds sing, and feel the sunshine on my face. Sometimes I go prayer walking…I pray to God when I leave home, when I am walking away from home and on my return, I shut up and listen. After all, how can you hear His answer if you are always talking. It was one of those days.
I was prayer walking with my four-legged friend, Tucker. Almost every day on one of the walks, I stop at my friend’s home and get their dog Tucker and we go for a walk together. Tucker and I love our walks. I was feeling a little down. A friend had died, another friend’s husband had died and I upset by what was happening in our nation and concerned about how this would affect our grandchildren’s lives. I was deep in prayer, looking down (it was icy) as I walked. I felt a little tug on the leash and realized Tucker had stopped and was looking up the street. I looked to see what was happening…and there it was (see picture included). A beautiful sky…once again filled with dark clouds and this time a streak of blue sky…Light in the darkness. My heart smiled at the sight. I thanked God. I thanked Tucker for stopping causing me to see what was before me…my God Nudge of the day. Tucker got an extra scratch behind his ears. We both felt better.
Friends our God Nudges come in all different ways, in big and little ways, from people, nature and from dogs. Look up and see the Light.
Blessings, Wendy