He's With Us!

This Scripture reminds me that we are always in the Presence of God because he is omnipresent!  

This was made aware to me more than ever when one afternoon last week, I popped in to a local nature preserve to do a quick mile walk before heading home after doing errands. It was another hot, humid day here in eastern NY. We are actually on week 2 of super hot and humid temperatures, which is unusual for this part of the state for that long.  I was longing for a good power walk but I knew with the high humidity that wouldn't be good for me so I opted to pop in to the nature preserve and just do a gentle walk on the trail called the Bird View trail. 

I started out on the trail. 

Main trail 
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve 

The parking lot was full.....total of 6 cars, with another one on the side of the road. I have walked/hiked here alone many times in the last 6 years, and never have I run into any kind of problem, be it wildlife or human. 

This day though, when I got out of the car, two young guys were smoking pot on the bridge and just hanging out. I didn't think much of it...they looked like older high school or  college- aged kids to me. 

As I approached the bridge, they took off running. NO idea where they went but they must have been fast because this is the trail after just stepping down from the bridge (the bridge goes over the Erie Canal) and they were no where to be seen. They were either track stars or were hiding in the reeds. 

And that's when my heart began to pound. 

I told myself I was being paranoid. I have walked this trail by myself so many times!

It was hot and steamy with the scent of the swamp all around me. 

There weren't many mosquitoes out nor gnats as it was the middle of the afternoon, but there were a lot of deer flies buzzing around my head. I walked down this trail for a half mile and was about to turn onto the Bird View trail which is nice and grassy and goes along the swampy part of the preserve where ducks and herons hang out. But then I heard something in this area: 

I knew immediately that it wasn't birds or squirrels. The movement was heavier. 

Now, earlier in the year, this preserve was closed due to a coyote sighting and he apparently hung around for awhile because the DEC had closed this preserve until sometime in May. Was the coyote back? I knew it wasn't a deer because they tend to be in the open fields on the other side of the preserve....another mile in and to the north not the south where I was headed. 

Maybe a fox?  

Maybe those boys? I couldn't smell the scent of the pot any longer so I doubted it was the kids....but what if....what if they were the type to mug older people? It can happen, although it's so rare on our NY trails. But I know it's happened on the bike path near Albany and Troy, the two big cities nearby. 

I began to pray...God, guide me back to the car and be with me, please. 

It was way too hot to run plus I'm not supposed to run due to the degenerative discs in my spine. 

But I began to walk...and sweat....quickly.  

I breathed a sigh of relief when I arrived back at car, cranked up the AC, took large gulps of the cold water in my thermos, and drove home with my heart still pounding. 

and God reminded me "I am with you always!" 

If I didn't have the Word hidden in my heart, I really would have been anxious. 

Spending time in God's Word, helps me to stay in His Presence. His Words are life!

And His Word brings Peace!

I trust in God.  He brings peace.

Even when we hear strange sounds among the reeds....His Presence is with us.