A revelation conversation...

      "Its time for me to take this whole thing off, isn't it?"  I ask Him.

      "What do you think?" He smiles.

     "I don't think it fits me right," I tell Him and tug on the side. "It's uncomfortable. It bugs me.  It has for a long time."

     He sighs, “Yes, but that happens when you try to wear someone else's clothes."

     "What do you mean?"  My voice fills with frustration.  “You gave me these clothes."

     He tilts his head. "Did I?"

     I look down. "I thought you did." I pause. “They used to fit me better, didn't they?" I hold out my arms. "I love this shoes”

     He laughs. "Yes, I know you do, but the rest of them are way too big for you little girl.  You’ve been tripping over the hem of those pants since you put them on.”

      The truth in His words sting a little.  "I know,"  I admit, “I trip over them at every turn.  And these shoes are wearing out."

     "So..."  He holds out his palms. "I think its time for you to put back on your own clothes?"

      I sink to my knees with my fists clenched.  "I really did think these clothes would fit me." I begin to cry. 

     When I finally look back up at Him I feel his great and deep love. He smiles. “I know you did, " he tells me. "And I'm going to let you keep those shoes. They're part of your story now. I want you to add them to your wardrobe."

     I am weeping. 

     He reaches down and dries my tears. 
    "Tell me something," He says after I quiet. "What do you know from this journey we are on?"  

     I close my eyes and ponder His question. 

     "I know that you speak to me.”  I tell him.   

     "Yes.”  He smiles.  “What else?"

     "I see you. I know you.”

     “Very good. You’re beginning to understand.”  He picks up both my hands in His.  “What else?”

     My eyes fill up with tears again.  "I know you pulled something out of me that I didn't know was in there?"

     "Yes!” He squeezes my hands before He lets them go.   

     I wipe my runny nose with the sleeve of my top.  
     “So I'm just suppose to forget about tracing your Glory through scripture?  After all the time I've given it. After all my hard work." 
     I stop for a moment to collect my thoughts and then, with passion I tell Him, "I'm writing again. I'm being faithful. I want to finish it!"

     He leans back and tilts His head.  "And what is it exactly that you want to finish?"

     "Why aren't you listening?" I'm shouting now. "The Glory Road.”

     For a brief moment He is silent and then He takes a deep breath and pulls me into His lap.  
     "The Glory Road" that I laid on your heart is not the formatted study that you write precious girl, that is just a tiny part of it. I want it to be about your journey. About who I am in you and who you are in me. It is about Us." 

      I begin to weep again and as He holds me I realize that my tears hold more joy than sadness.  

     "So it wasn't for nothing then? 

     He lifts my chin and looks deep into my eyes.  "It wasn't for nothing, precious child. It was for you to better understand my Glory."

     I wipe my nose again, take a deep breath, and climb down from his lap. 
     "Well...all right. It was way too hard anyway." I brush myself off and straighten. "All those computer programs, Bible apps, the commentaries, the research.” I sniffle.  “I’m happy to be done with it.”

    “Are you finished?”  He asks. 

      I nod my head and His smile diffuses me.  I sniffle again. “I'm not a Bible teacher am I?"

     "No, sweet girl, you are not.”  He pauses. "But know that I sincerely love all your questions and I love your passion and faithfulness in the study of it."  
     He takes the corner of His robe sleeve and dries my tears. “Now let me ask you something else?  Was there any joy in this challenging season?"

     I look down at the floor ashamed and humbled.  “So very much."  I say quietly. "More than I could imagine."

     He reaches down and lifts my chin again.  “And where did you find that joy?"

     I take a deep breath.  "Every day when I saw you in the sky and the mountains. In every moment that you gave me revelation. In all the beautiful pictures I took. In every word I wrote about you. In everything I painted."

     "Ahhh...that's a lot of moments of joy since that day two years ago that we talked in your car, huh?”  He smiles knowing that I am beginning to see.  

     I sniffle again.  “Yes. So very very many.”

     “So I have just one more question for you today then. What was it that you tracked through my word, stopped to photograph and paint? That thing that brought you joy? 
     “Your Glory.”  I tell him. 

     There is a long pause in our conversation as we sit, His words settling over my spirit.    

   "This talk has been good, hasn't it?  I asked him, I’m not too rebellious am I?"

     He stands up.  "Now what kind of a question is that? Didn't I just take you back through the desert with my Israelite children in your Bible study."

      I laugh and get to my feet. "Yes, you did.”  I tell him.  "You’ve seen rebellion from your children before.” 

     We stand facing one another.  “So now what?”  I ask him.

     “You tell me.”  He says.

     “I will wait and see you. I will take pictures and I will paint.”

     He stands. I know my time with Him is almost over.  "And what else will you do?"

     I pause and look at him, and suddenly I know. "And I will write about it?:

     "Yes!" His smile says it all. "You my child will write about it." A smile fills my face. 

     "The Glory Road." I say. 

     "The Glory Road Indeed."

     There's some quiet time between us, Then he says, "You want to ask me something. Go ahead." 

     My eyes fill with tears. "Will Paul get to go to Israel. It is such a desire of his heart." A tear rolls from my eyes.  
     "Oh...Yes, Paul. I love him so very much. Some of my deepest tears were cried for him. It might take time, but do you trust me?

     "Yes." I reply. "I trust you."

     He smiles, turns his back, and begins to walk away. After a few steps, I hear him shout. "I can count on you to take some pictures when you get there, Yes? And perhaps paint a few things?"        

     With tears I shout back.  "I can do that!" I tell him, "I can." 

     "And?'"

     "I'll write about!" I shout back, "I'm on The Glory Road, remember?"

     He lifts up his hand as a Goodbye. "You are indeed."