Still.  I like this time of day, early morning.  A fan of sleep, I never thought I would say this.  All is still in the house with the hub, my two girls, and our dog sleeping.  I am awake because our dog needed to go outside, but she returns to slumber with hardly any effort on her part.  Instead of going back to sleep, this is my time to write, read, and reflect on recent events.  The only sound I can hear is the light hum of the heater in the background and the mild snoring of my black Labrador.

I wonder . . . is God here with me now?  Some days I can feel His presence while other days it feels as if He has left me here to fend for myself.  If I am still, truly still, I know He is here through the laughter of my children, the embrace of my husband, the encouragement of my friends, the fullness of my heart.  Other times, reading about Internet trolls harassing others, the slaughter of innocent children, the unkind words of one human being to another, I question His apparent absence.

So, I need this time carved into the early morning hours to be truly still.