Holy Presence

I Peter 5:7 MSG

When I was young I was given a great opportunity to have a unique job for a woman at the time. I was a job I eventually loved once I figured out how to protect myself from vermin and the elements. I really loved working for the railroad.

I Peter 5:7, “Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.”

While I worked for the railroad walking the tracks at night I became a prayer. There were dangers lurking in dark corners and I knew there were very large rats who cleaned up grain that fell out of the grain cars.

There were also homeless people who lived in empty box cars and traveled from city to city. I don’t know about now, but fifty years ago the railroad didn’t run them off.

I was a city kid from the suburbs and I had not seen a rat or a homeless person until I worked for the railroad.

I prayed and prayed for God’s protection every time I went outside.

Even though I was afraid, the rats never came close to me and the homeless people in the cars left me alone. I had been told that both were more afraid of me than I was of them, but I was still careful. I still prayed a lot.

Because I prayed and was protected I came to really understand and believe that God loved me and watched over me. See…when I prayed and really relied on God I started to really connect with God the Spirit. I could feel God’s protection.

I knew when God was close. I could sense the nearness and strength of God around me.