God didn’t make us with this fascinating complexity just to leave us to figure out on our own how well we’re equipped to deal with trauma.

Once I’d caught on to what God’s presence within me intended to do, I wasn’t sure if that mat was gonna stay put at all.

As we pray each day, feeling like doing so or not, God is teaching us how to see Him.

We become like little children, again? Well … that is both the answer and the problem.

When a human being accompanies us, it is uplifting, comforting, strengthening. But, are we aware? Can we open ourselves to the full, ongoing, gifting awareness? When God himself accompanies us, just what is the effect?!

We’re not ruined. What we are is marvelous! We are complex, fantastic beings! We are impressionable, sensitive, and beloved.

Maybe this isn’t a God-only production; maybe it’s a God-and-us drama. Instead of bombarding God with “Where are You? What are You doing? Why did You allow this? Maybe we’d fare better, get more enlightenment from “Where are we? What are we doing? Why are we allowing this?”

As I pondered that crucifix, God entered in.

He was willing to remain on the cross as long as I had to remain on mine. What love is this?

We often judge God’s presence based on whether or not suffering stopped. This is not the only criteria; and, indeed, for most of us, it can miss where God shows up so vibrantly.