I was once asked what time in my life did I most feel the presence
of God. When did I feel like I was most fully in the will of God. My answer was the time I spent in South Africa in 2010. That answer is still true today.
If you have paid any attention to my facebook photos, you
would know that I have a fascination with clouds. This preoccupation began that
November when I visited South Africa. Our time was spent near the southern
coast. It seemed no matter where we went
we had an ever present view of Table Mountain. More often than not the mountain
was adorned with clouds. Table Mountain with its ever present halo became for
me a symbol of the presence of God. It called to mind the presence of God
hovering over Mt. Sinai while the Israelites waited to receive the Law. To this
day when I see a sky filled clouds I am reminded that is God is present.
However, remembering and feeling are two different things. I
can know the goodness of God and not open myself to allow that reality to touch
and shape me. Largely (though not solely) this is what I have done this summer.
I have seen God at work, but not allowed that reality to penetrate my stubborn
and fearful heart.
In the late afternoon of June 15 I looked out my window and
noted that the sky was blue and the clouds were out. Grabbing my camera, I went
for a walk to capture the beauty of God. The exercise began a a simple indulging
of my blossoming hobby of photography. However, it ended in a lesson of the presence
of God.
The image of the clouds in South Africa spoke to me of the presence
of God not simply in the way they reflect his beauty and majesty. It was the image of the clouds descending
upon and hanging over Table Mountain that called to my mind the presence of
God.
I began to point my camera skyward, initially the clouds were
the sole subject of my shot. Not satisfied with the result, I lowered my lens
and framed a building to give the clouds contrast and scope. As I did so, I
realized that God was present here in Menominee, MI just as he was in South Africa. Of course I knew that before
checking the result of the picture in the camera’s display, but the image
brought knowledge not just to my thoughts but to my spirit as well.
The album that is linked to and the inspiration for this
blog contains shots of clouds over schools, churches, government buildings, and
businesses. It is comprised of the presence of God over Menominee, and it serves as a reminder of the presence of God in me.
 | ||
| Menominee, MI 6-15-14 |
--Serving Him alongside all of you, just from further away
--Jesse Letourneau
