"In Your Presence": A Poem

"In Your Presence"

By

Erin-Rae Donaldson

I sense you here

I sense you there

I sense you everywhere

Where can I go, oh God, without your presence?

It is the breath in my lungs, the rock on which I stand, my very essence

My troubles threaten to weaken my spirit and direct me astray

But your Holy Spirit calms the storm in me without delay

Where can I go, oh God, without your presence surrounding me?

Tears stream down my face as you fill my heart with glee

The Bread of Life permeates through my veins

Fears, anxieties, feelings of inadequacy race through my mind like a fleet of trains

But still, you faithfully remain.

Lord, even in my weakest moments you sustain.

I cannot comprehend your goodness, nor can I conceive the plans you have for me

To walk in your perfect architectural design is more than enough for me

Your will is my desire

Oh how I long to see your dreams transpire

Lord, your presence refreshes my soul

In you, I have every reason to extol

Lord, you are here

Lord, you are there

Lord, you are everywhere

The Bike Ride

It seems like its been ages since I have last written and I can tell my fingers are ready to type another blog post. To all of you who are reading this, I pray you have been doing well over these past several months. There have been so many things I have been reflecting on to the point my heart could burst. Unfortunately, I haven't had a sufficient amount of time to write, but today is the day! I can just feel it. It's time to drop everything and start typing. Here are a few things I have been pondering lately....

After graduation in May, I was unsure as to whether or not I would be able to attend grad school to get my MBA this Fall, but God continued to open doors and his intervention paved the way. I now find myself at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, attending courses throughout the day and evening and serving as a grad assistant to the College of Business Dean. Although this season has brought its challenges, I stand in awe of God's blessings and favor as I depend on Him. I have found that every experience, every friendship, every conversation, and every person he has brought into my life has purpose and is far from coincidental. I am constantly learning from others and am only encouraged to become all that I can be. (To all of you who have played a role in my life...I just want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me and for investing in my present and future. The impact you have made cannot be measured). I believe that God orchestrates each day in such a way that enables us to learn from one another and grow in ways we could never imagine. You see, a life expecting God to work and trusting in his architectural design--surrendering to his will daily even when it doesn't end up looking like your own--is a life full of joy and peace. Sometimes we don't understand pain nor do we comprehend the difficult circumstances or disappointments we face, but God does not waste any experience. In fact, He uses these experiences to strengthen us and to deepen our walk with Him--to reveal things to us that perhaps we would overlook otherwise. He says that he collects every tear drop. "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book" (Psalm 56:9 NLV). No matter where you find yourself today, whether you are experiencing great blessings or an impossible hardship, know that your God is a God with your best interest in mind. You are his precious son/daughter with a calling on your life. Keep your eyes focused upon Him and he will never fail you. Look around you! Breathe in the air...every time the sun shines upon you, every time the wind gently flows through your hair, every time a rain drop streams down your face, every time you hear the birds sing a melody...think of Him. His presence is real. Rest in it. Let go of the need to control every last detail and see where he takes you.

I was running errands the other day and stopped in the copy center to take care of a few things for the College of Business open house event. Of all places, an unexpected conversation took place with the gentleman assisting me. After our 5 minute talk, he went to his desk only to return with a piece of paper with the "The Bike Ride" poem, also known as "A Tandem Ride With God" typed out neatly. As I walked back to the office, I read each word and found myself in tears a few sentences in. I hope it encourages you just as much as it encouraged me. It's time to give God control. Keep pedaling no matter what! You may not know the destination, but trust that God will not direct you anywhere that he cannot sustain you. Love you all.

A Tandem Ride With God

(Author unknown)

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited Heaven or Hell when I die. He was out there sort of like the President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.

But later on when I recognized my Higher Power, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride; but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since . . . life with my Higher Power, that is. God makes life exciting. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. 

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are You taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure; and when I'd say, "I'm scared, " He'd lean back and touch my hand. 

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey; our journey, God's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought he'd wreck it. But He knew bike secrets, knew how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high places filled with rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my Higher Power.

And when I'm sure I can't do any more, He just smiles and says, "PEDAL!" 



(Photo: I took this picture in St. Andrews, Scotland--a beautiful and unforgettable place. I have always wanted a vintage bike similar to this one. Perhaps someday I will stumble across a red one with a wicker basket in the front)