ecently, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend at a campsite near an ocean beach. Just before dawn one day, I plopped myself into the sand to enjoy the early morning and I was quickly engulfed by the beauty. The birds were very peaceful - their music not a loud cacophony of sounds, but rather gentle chirping inquiries and responses from tree to tree. The surf gently lapped at the shore, it’s rhythm broken only by the occasional leaping fish. The setting moon, almost full, reflected brightly, shimmering off the waves as far as I could see.

"It's in moments like this I know there is a God," I thought half aloud.

"But God is in all moments" replied a sing song voice from the closest tree. It was almost like a chirping bird, yet I could understand the words.

"Sam? Is that you?" I turned to the tree where I heard the voice but I couldn't see anything but leaves and branches. I had come to recognize Sam as my guardian, guiding angel and though I'd never seen him, he had brought me words of wisdom several times through the years.

"Be still, my friend, and enjoy the presence of God." Sam replied

I turned back toward the ocean with the intent of once again relishing the beauty, but I quickly recognized the conflict in what Sam just told me. Without turning, I said "Sam, first you said that God is in all moments and then you said to enjoy the presence of God as though this is a special moment."

"God is in all moments, but that doesn't mean that you take the time to appreciate his presence. When you stop to pray, he's there. When you stop to meditate, he's there. Those moments where you choose to acknowledge his presence and become closer to him are special - not because God has suddenly appeared, but because you are moving closer to him.

"And like a good friend, when you decide to do something else, he doesn't intrude. That's not to say he doesn't want to be a part of your life. He does, but only when invited."

I thought of this and realized the truth. God never does leave, but my awareness of Him is not a constant. I was reminded of a story of an elderly couple driving along in their car, him behind the steering wheel, her on the passenger's side. They stopped at a red light, alongside a young couple in a convertible, both beaming with the passion of love. The young man was behind the steering wheel as in the older couple's car, but the young woman was not on the passenger's side. Instead, she had slid over next to him, cuddling as close as safety would allow.

"We used to be like that," the elderly woman said. "What happened?"

"I never moved," replied the older man matter-of-factly.

"Exactly," Sam replied. "So it is with God. He's always here with you. The distance between you and him is never because God has moved, but instead because you have moved. If you want to be closer to God, find ways to move your consciousness closer to him."

With that, Sam didn't say another thing. Yet he gave me a gift of much more than just the wisdom of his words. Now, when I hear birds sing, I'm reminded of God. I'm reminded that God is here with me in this moment, and I all need to do to bring more peace and serenity into my life is to acknowledge His presence and greet Him with my heart.

- Darril R. Gibson