by Kathy Christianson

Trust is such a big part of faith. To live with a knowing that there is a higher power – something greater, way greater, than ourselves. To know and believe that there is a spirit, a very Holy Spirit, that is with us always. In this trusting, we know that we have a silent partner who guides us, protects us and stays with us, as we make our way back to Home.

We heard in today’s Gospel that the Israelites were very upset with Moses because there was no water. That must have been very difficult. They must have been very scared. But in their need for water they seemed to have verbally attacked Moses. With the Israelites being such a large group that must have been very intimidating.

One thing I noticed in this passage from Exodus is that the people were making demands and asking questions of Moses. I wondered to myself – why weren’t they asking for what they needed from God? After all, God was a partner with them on this journey to the Promised Land. Had they forgotten that God was with them?

In our lives, it is not a hard thing to do – to forget that God is with us. We can get so caught up in ourselves and others, that we forget and turn our attention away from the fact – our belief – our faith – that God is with us.

There is a Cherokee Indian legend that I am fond of and would like to share with you. The author of this legend is not known –

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don’t know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Moses had complete faith, which included that deep trust that God was with them in their passage through the desert. Moses asked God for what he needed and God made it happen. God granted Moses’ request.

This Lenten season, let us waken our consciousness to the presence of God. Ask God for what you need and trust that it will be granted (but in God’s time….not ours). And then be grateful. Even before you see the results, be thankful. For this thanks sends proof to our Creator that you trust that your need will be fulfilled.