I read it painted on a sign:

Not all who wander are lost.

Family hike, the descent. Aunt and Mom walked joy and talked slow. Uncle was quiet, his humor released by directing our forks in the trail with mime hands. Dad is good at adjusting his pace, pointing out nature unique. Trail curved, creek rushed, and my mind wandered. I felt a little lost.

A prayer, brief. Lord, help me focus on You. I want to engage, see, breathe, live. 

Urge to look back, over my shoulder. My feet stopped, eyes fixed on the gushing white water–the section illuminated by the light. Quickly, a whisper arrived, spoken slow, “Wherever my light shines, there my Spirit goes.” 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. ~Psalm 119:105

Wherever God’s light shines, the Holy Spirit is already there. Water is Holy Spirit. There was light on that water–white pureness of his Spirit present there. His Word is the brightness that shines on my path–the trail by the water, all bathed in warm sun. The Word is the light, and Jesus is the Word, and He is the light of the world. The light and the water, His Son and His Spirit. The two with Himself, the Creator, my Father. He is triune God. And I saw Him there in the trees. His light shines on the path before me and behind me, over my shoulder. His Spirit rushes on white and clear beside me, and I am in His presence.

I asked to see God, and He showed Himself to me, right there on that dirty, holy ground. He is holy, and I was dirty. His water washed me white, and His Spirit cleansed me pure, right there in that forest baptism bright. If I simply pause long enough to ask, to see, to be seen. Isn’t that one of my deep heart’s desires–to be actually seen, truly known and wholly loved? Only as I write the words now do I see: I saw Him–the unveiled, revealed face. And He sees me. 

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi, or well of the Living One who sees me. ~Genesis 16:13-14

__________

I had paused once before on the way up that trail, when I heard it slight, “I know where you are going.” 

He knows my path and where it leads, yet it is unfamiliar to me, and I cannot see the road ahead. Am I lost?

‘Let not your heart be troubled…I go there to prepare a place for you…And where I go you know, and the way you know.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to Him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ~John 14:4-6

Thomas asks what I’ve longed to spout out for weeks but haven’t been able to voice. Lord, I don’t know where you’re taking me! If I don’t know the destination, how can I know the route to take to get there?

I am the way. You know me, so you know the way.

Last week I prayed, Lord, show me the path of life! I wanted direction, clarity, voice. And He spoke with his presence. He showed me Himself. He answered with high ways above me. He alone is my path.

My God showed me his face, reflected right there in that white water stream.

O my heart, be never troubled or afraid. You are in good hands, the hands of your Father who said “Let there be light,” and it was so. He is the same God who shines his Light on your life trail each day. He sees you. You are in a good place and on a good path. And heart, my heart, you know the Way! 

I read a second sign in the same shop that day.

It feels good to be lost in the right direction.