Jacob was running away, just like all of us do at one time or another, in one way or another.  We run away because we are afraid, or lonely, or frustrated, or bored, or overwhelmed, or for whatever reason things just aren’t good right here, right now.  We physically run away, or we do it in our minds or hearts.  We are not fully present.

Jacob ran until he was tired of running.  The next escape was to lie down and sleep.  His pillow was a rock. (Yikes!).  Yet he dreamed a wonderful dream.  There was a ladder, a stairway from earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth.

(Fresco by Raphael painted 1517-1518, located in the Vatican in Rome)

Angels were present, traveling along the stairway.  God came to talk with Jacob and listen.  In the midst of that conversation God assured Jacob, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.”  Then Jacob woke up!  (God is all about waking us up!) Jacob must have thought, “WHO ME?  Did this really just happen to ME?”  In that moment of grace, he knew God was there.  He must have either shouted to the whole world, or whispered silently deep within his own heart….”Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.  How awesome!” (Genesis 28:16)

Life is full of “God moments”, epiphanies.  We wake up unexpectedly to the presence of God.  It happens by God’s grace, God’s initiative, but we wake up to realize it is God.  Even the “waking up” is a gift of grace.  Every day, in every place, the world is full of these moments in which we suddenly realize God is in this place and we did not know it!

The following is from a poem by Charles Livingston Snell in the book entitled “This Is My Wish for You”…

Pondering…

Have you ever run away or wanted to?

When have you suddenly realized God was present?  How did you know?

nk