Experiencing God's Presence

Its evening. 9.25 PM to be precise.

Asha has gone to sleep. She wants to sleep at 8 PM nowdays (she finally got in at 8.30+) so that she can get up early and read her Bible and practice violin before breakfast. She recently was able to do a passable (delightful from a parent's eyes) take on 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

Sheba is reading Heidi to Enoch. They are lying on the diwan in the front room as I bang away at the keyboard. Enoch has been having a low-grade fever for a few days. The fever is especially noticable - and the cough especially loud - just before it is time to go to school. Yesterday he was at home. Today we gave him a paracetemol and packed him off to school. He survived the day well and is now happily making a puzzle on the floor.

Life is very good. Sheba read to me a couple of chapters from the Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee. We got the good book via the internet - bro Thampi sent it from Houston of all places. Nee talks about the need to have the outer man broken in order to be constantly in the presence of God - and not have to 'retreat from the world'.

Its what we want in the middle of all that we are doing and all that is going on around us. To be aware of us being nestled in God's hands. To be in His presence fully - no matter what we are doing.

As we look at Mum and Dad we see some of that abiding in God's presence. Their presence is such a fresh breeze. We had them with us for some time the week before last along with Premi (which was a great privilege) and I continue to be amazed their willingness to keep learning, keep being used, keep enjoying God in new ways.

Dad stopped by over this last weekend after wrapping up a healing retreat in Lonavala (Mum and Premi had headed back to Mussoorie). He spoke at 2 places on Sunday and ended up with an excellent lecture on "Forgiveness: The Key to Total Healing" in Mulund.

As we were being brought home - Dad got a chest pain. Though his train was leaving in 2 hours - Sheba and I thought it worthwhile to take Dad to Lok for an ECG. It was normal. Thank God. But it did mean seeing Dad on a table with stuff stuck all over him - lying quietly. We got him off to the train by the skin of his teeth. He has just finished 2 days of sharing with the students a the Maharashtra Bible College (which my great-grandfather helped establish a century ago).

Dad once said that as young people the OMers had a motto - I will burn out before I rust out.

The good thing is that Dad and Mum are certainly not rusting - but rather they are taking a deep breath and waiting to hear what Father has next for them. Their adventures in being in the presence of God continues.

P.s. As I write this Mum has started out on a high-altitude trek somewhere near Gangotri with the lads and lassies from EMI. Not bad for a 70 plus lady! Experiencing the presence of God...