Someone asked me today about my holiday. I said that it was great and it was what I really needed for my soul. I started to say that I had all four seasons in the mountains, but I kind of got stuck after ‘all’. I just couldn’t find the word ‘seasons’ in my mind. While my mind was searching for the it, I heard ‘And all there for you…’. Yes, I replied, it did feel like that and we just carried on talking. Though, this phrase stayed with me. I was sitting in the church and praying and those words were literally ringing in my ears and the images of the mountains playing like a slideshow in my mind.

‘And all there for you…’ It didn’t take long until I felt warm tears rolling down my face. Everything was there for me because God was there for me… and He was at work… He always was and always is and always will be. It’s not that He’s less for me at home or elsewhere. He’s with me and for me everywhere. He is… That’s His name. The difference is that I have a guarantee that in the mountains I will be open, less defensive and more receptive than in any other place. It’s not a new realisation, I knew it before, but recently I’ve been more intentional. It’s not that God is doing something because I happened to be in the mountains. I go to the mountains because I need Him to do something, I want Him to do something and I know that He will be at work…

Every one of us has a place like that, that Mount Tabor. For me, it’s always been in the mountains, but I know people for whom it’s a tall boat and the sea or the ocean. Still lakes reflecting everything around them. The woods with murmuring streams and endless paths disappearing among the trees. Vast open meadows covered with tall grass full of singing crickets or hills covered with lavender.

Where is your Tabor? If you don’t know, find it, go there often, make it intentional and treasure each encounter with Him there. He will provide – on the mountain or wherever that place is.

On the mountain the Lord will provide.

One of my friends said to me after her visit to Rome that she found it hard to find God in Vatican. I agree. There are places, even holy places where it isn’t easy to find God. For me, Vatican is one of those.

Rome isn’t the mountains. It’s not a place where I can naturally and almost instantly connect with Him.
When I went to Rome last week, I expected nothing. Yet there was this hope that made me say: I don’t know, I don’t understand why I’m really doing this, but I’m open. Do what you need to do… Show me what you need to show me…

Wherever you go, it might seem hard to find God, but if you are open, He might just surprise you and do the finding bit. He will find you if you let Him. It might not be in a way you expect. It might not be in a place you expect.

I encountered Him in another person and in a way that I couldn’t possibly envisage. It was beautiful. It was profound. It was almost sacred. I encountered Him in disappointment and changed plans. Oh boy, it was painful, but He met me there, too. Ah, and of course, in nature… in the olive garden, in the sound of crickets, in the stunning sunset, the scent of jasmine… Meeting Him there wasn’t surprising. I simply didn’t expect being in nature.

I was surprised and I’m ever so grateful.

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, will you let Him encounter you?