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The Fog

I couldn't see out the kitchen window as a very thick fog filled in the spaces of our backyard. Stepping out into it with Jazzy girl at my side, the fog weighed heavy.  The ground was damp most likely from the foggy mist.  I haven't seen fog like this for such a very long time.  I wondered as I walked if this was what it was like when the children of Israel were surrounded by the Pillar of Cloud by day?  I breathed in the quietness and imagined that indeed God does surround me, His presence ever with me.  I realized that the fog completely hid my familiar environment.  I realized that the lesson in the fog was to trust.  Trust God, knowing that His presence is ever with me, knowing that I don't need to see ahead or have my path all planned out.  He knows those mountains hidden from my sight, He knows potential dangers of approaching cars or wandering coyotes.  I just need to walk on, going forward in trust . . . 

Standing and singing in church that day, my thoughts were reinforced with the song "Great Is Your Faithfulness," as well as a new chorus with the line of "Give me faith to trust what You say to me . . . "  Yes, I may find myself in a fog, but instead of seeing it as threatening, may I take it as a reminder of Your very Spirit ever with me. . . 

I just wanted to pick up some birthday cards for my nieces on my way home.  Glancing through the rows of cards, my ears pricked up, instead of the usual Hallmark melody in the store, there was a newscaster talking about "a death, Kobe Bryant. . . " The message continued somewhat sporadic as I chatted to the clerk with my purchase.  Something also about "his 13 year old daughter being killed."  Sitting in my car, I glanced at my phone and noted a text from my son that had been there earlier, confirming to me that indeed Kobe had died that very morning, at the much too young age of 41.  Immediately I felt crushed for a precious family left without a Dad, a husband, a daughter and a sister.  Coming home, I found myself glued to the TV news throughout the day, confirming not only their death but 7 others too.  Families immediately changed forever, now unable to wake up to a spouse, a parent or a sibling.  Sometimes, it's just too hard to live in human skin.  Our lives are riddled with unimaginable tragedy and trauma; it's always a real fact, non of us are immune to life changing moments for the worse . . . 

That morning fog that I had found so reassuring, had become perhaps a menace.  Certainly I knew that visibility would be rough for any flying object.   Although it can protect, it can also hide hidden dangers of nearby foothill peaks.  Of course, the cause is still being investigated, but it doesn't change the reality of lives now lost.  Life is truly just a vapor, no one has control of one more breath to live or to breathe the final one in death.  Yet, God knows, God laments, He grieves with us throughout our days.  He comforts and He cares, He is ever near the brokenhearted . . . that I know.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, 
and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
(Psalm 34:18) 

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