Today’s scripture: Genesis 24:10-27 (The Message)

 The servant took ten of his master’s camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, “O God, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels’—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I’ll know that you’re working graciously behind the scenes for my master.”

15-17 It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?”

18-21 She said, “Certainly, drink!” And she held the jug so that he could drink. When he had satisfied his thirst she said, “I’ll get water for your camels, too, until they’ve drunk their fill.” She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels.

The man watched, silent. Was this God’s answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?

22-23 When the camels had finished drinking, the man brought out gifts, a gold nose ring weighing a little over a quarter of an ounce and two arm bracelets weighing about four ounces, and gave them to her. He asked her, “Tell me about your family? Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay the night?”

24-25 She said, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor. And there’s plenty of room in our house for you to stay—and lots of straw and feed besides.”

26-27 At this the man bowed in worship before God and prayed, “Blessed be God, God of my master Abraham: How generous and true you’ve been to my master; you’ve held nothing back. You led me right to the door of my master’s brother!”

Have you ever had that moment with someone that in the midst of talking to them you realize that this is exactly what you need right now? Have you had that realization that they are saying everything you needed to hear? Have you had that time when everything else melted away because that person was so important and what was happening was so important that the to do list didn’t matter for a moment?

I have found that when I have been open to those moments, the universe or God or other power or whatever connects to you, doesn’t disappoint me.  When I am open to looking for God, God appears in full force…differently than I expected…and usually in somewhat frustrating ways…but God shows up if I am open to the moment.

Last night I was overwhelmed and all I really wanted to do was to go home, change into jammies, and watch the latest Grey’s Anatomy.  I am looking towards this week and realizing it needs way too much to happen in the time that I actually have to do all of these things. In fact, I am not really sure how it is all going to happen.  And yet, last night I had been invited to attend a small group. They meet every Monday night and have become quite the little community of practice. This group is targeted to a certain group of women in the church and they have really taken on being a small group that could show other small groups how to function. They are awesome women and I was being reluctant to go. Plus all of my other meetings for the day had run longer than I expected and the meeting just before the small group was no different. So I arrived almost 20 minutes late (which I HATE doing, BTW).  I was greeted so warmly! They pulled out scripture and talked with such authenticity and just the words that I loved hearing. I became very quiet (which actually means I am very content) and just listened and soaked it all in.

At the end of the night, we stood in a circle to pray. We held hands and each person would say a prayer. I was to end the circle. About halfway through, I opened my eyes and noticed that we were all swaying together. We were holding hands and so in tune with one another that we were actually swaying together.

Awww…there it is . The moment. The moment of gratitude for being included and present and just in the right place at the right time.

The scripture today is about finding the right person for Isaac. The servant is sent out by the very old Abraham who knows he is not long for this world to find someone just right for the son.  The servant happens to stop at a well and this young woman happens to be the one to offer water and space for him. The servant knows that he is in the right space at the right time. She is Rebekah and she will become the love of Isaac’s life. The servant was dreading the task and yet here he is in just the right spot.

Where are the right spots for you today? Who has a word for you that you needed or where are you offering a word? If someone shows up, are you willing to be in that space with them? I think you wont regret saying yes to an encounter.

Peace,
C