I couldn’t believe it! The one moment, the only moment that I closed my eyes while traveling through India, an elephant appeared!
Believe me when I say that I tried to be very attentive to my surroundings because everything was such a wonder and I was intent on not missing anything that India had to offer. My head was on a constant swivel as I tried to take in everything around me. Yet, I almost missed seeing a domesticated elephant walking down the roadway because I thought it was safe to close my eyes. Luckily, my traveling companions alerted me and called out, “Sister Lisa, look! An elephant!”
That experience of almost missing the sight of an elephant in India, made me think of all the scripture passages that admonishes us to stay awake and be alert for the coming of the Lord. (Now, I am in no way equating Jesus to an elephant, but I think you catch my drift.) It is when I become complacent and succumb to drowsiness of spirit that I run the risk of missing Jesus’ presence and surprises. I never know when and how Jesus will make himself known to me and I surely do not want to miss Him! I must, as St. Mathew writes, “keep watch because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
I never knew what was coming next during my time in India. And, being on constant watch for the glories in my travels caused me at times to have drowsy eyes and almost caused me to miss an elephant-sighting. I find that life, like my days in India, is full of surprising twists and turns and unexpected events. Surely, in my spiritual life I seldom know what God has in store for me. Remaining vigilant everyday is tough. Therefore, I must fervently pray that my spirit never becomes too tired for me to keep watch for my Lord.
Although I opened my eyes in time to see the elephant, I was not quick enough to snap a picture. This is a stock photo from Morguefile.com.