Reflecting on a hard week. . . Because sometimes you have to do that.

Several years ago an opportunity presented itself to me--an opportunity that none of us relished. Covid-19 locked us all down. We were told to socially distance ourselves. Stay inside, or at the very least, away from others. Essential workers, like Jennifer, who worked at a pediatric office, had to navigate how to do their job while remaining safe. But I had a different experience entirely. 

I could still work and serve the Lord. I was able to do that work at a safe distance. In this case, I did most of my work from my home office. I could go to the church when I needed to and retrieve any book that I needed. Then I returned home and worked. I could even stay in the office if I wanted. No one was there.

But the opportunity that this post with was: I began to walk. A lot.

Our German Shepherd, Luna, and I began talking daily walks of around 3 miles every day. 

We rarely saw anyone. Living on the edge of Cranberry Township near forests and hiking trails, we often walked in the cool mornings when the sky was remarkably blue and the air crisp. Car traffic was at a minimum. 

Even with my AirPods firmly in my ears, I could hear cars coming down the roads and she came to me and sat by my feet every time. Some days we would walk five miles. Others closer to three. I always let Luna tell me how far we would walk and I learned how to read her body language so that I could tell when it was time to turn around so that she would make the very long climb back up to the house with just enough energy left. Climbing back up Plains Church road was hard.  

Then she would settle in after a long drink of water and rest by my feet while I worked the rest of the day away. It was a wonderful existence and a wonderful opportunity to learn from the Lord. 

This week has been hard. We said good-bye to Luna. The most horrible word in the English language, cancer, came to us. 

Now all the wonderful memories of Luna are all we have left. And they are all indeed wonderful. But none more than walking down Plains Church Road, Turning right onto Hope Road. Then left onto Morningside Drive. From there a whole lot of choice presented themselves and Luna was game for them all. We walked down the middle of the street so no one would get made if we walked in their yard or got too close to their homes. 

But on each walk, with each blue sky, our constant companion was the Lord of all Creation. 

Sometimes we forget that God goes with us. We are quick to see the Lord in the immediately, and necessary, moments. Certainly our family felt God was there on the day after Luna left us. But now, four days later, I still notice God walking with me. Of course the pain is not as harsh, but it does not matter. God is with me. And God will always be with me. 

As I am sure others have the same experience when we ask God to come for an immediate, emergent, need and felt the Lord come close in that moment. 

Yet I wonder, are we as quick to see God when the need is not as need is not as urgent? For God never leaves or forsakes. God is exactly what we need in every moment of every day. Let that comfort and secure you as it has us this week.