“God’s Sticky Fingerprints”

University of Denver Campus—”Dan’s Garden” upper pond

University of Denver Campus—”Dan’s Garden” upper pond

WHERE: DU’s campus—”Dan’s Garden” upper pond

WHEN: Anytime—it is quiet and peaceful. But come back at sunset for a spectacular viewing.

BLESSED SPOT: The red bench on the upper pond

 
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DU Campus—in front of the Ritchie School of Engineering. (Dan’s Garden)
Sit on the red bench at the small reflecting pool.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
— Isaiah 30:22

“That has God’s Sticky Fingerprints all Over it”

“Look, momma, a rock!” said Natalie’s 2-year old daughter. She picked it up and gave it to her mom. That mini divine appointment led to the answer of several prayers and the start of a cool friendship.

Recently I had been praying that God would re-inspire me with this blog, that he would give me a little encouragement to keep going and assure me that the words I was writing weren’t just going out into the ether and fizzling out. I felt tempted to put the effort behind me and chalk it up to a great adventure. I heard my inner voice telling me: “who do you think you are—dressing up as a writer and believing you can compose a meaningful devotional? That is for the big kids.” I have felt like a poser and a wannabe and it was getting the best of me.

No more than a week later, I received a moving email from a woman named Natalie. After going on a walk around the DU campus, Natalie’s toddler found the rock I had painted with the URL of the blog. The stone was nowhere near the place I had initially left it. Natalie wrote in her email: “My husband and I are Christians and we work in healthcare IT and marketing. We like our jobs, but we have been praying and praying for a way to take a first step toward changing our careers and starting to do work that matters to us. I have been specifically praying to find a way to do work that serves humanity, that serves the world in some way every day. And then, today while my husband and daughter and I were walking around DU, I found your Wanderfully rock. I took a picture, charmed by the message of hope, and that this was a sacred spot. I wanted to see what the site was about. I imagined a sweet little site about looking on the bright side of life. What I found was so much more!”  She went on to weave a story about how several of the devotionals had underscored and confirmed what God was already doing in their lives. About the similarities in the messages she was hearing at church, in books she was reading, and in how she and her husband were pursuing God during COVID. She shared that the posts were confirmation that they were on the right path. She went on to say “So many thoughts swirled in my brain, about how kind it was that someone prayed so specifically and wonderfully for people she didn’t know, what a unique and special idea it was to do so, and how I really needed that exact rock today! I went to tell my husband about this experience, and he immediately said something cute like “that has God’s sticky fingers all over it.”

“This is the Way; Walk in it”

I love her husband’s quote: “that has God’s sticky fingers all over it.” Isn’t it so awesome when you can see God’s fingerprints on something, and it is as clear as a bell that it was truly divine. What a soul-satisfying surprise. 

A week later, we ended up having coffee together and sharing our stories, our ambitions, our dreams, and hopes for our futures. Natalie encouraged me deeply (I hope I did too). I walked away knowing I made a new friend. What could be better than that? God directed her daughter to the brightly painted rock so she could give it to her mom, and her mom could read something confirming, and then have the guts to email me, and eventually invite me to have coffee. What a beautiful chain of divine events that answered a slew of prayers. God used me to speak to Natalie, and God used Natalie to speak to me. He provided me with a wonderful surprise, a divine appointment, and a deeply encouraging message. It had God written all over it!

Like I wrote in the last blog “Divine Appointments”, I wonder how many appointments we miss when we choose to not show up, not write the email, not reach out to someone, not place the rock, not have a specific prayer request, not take a risk, and just not try. God is waving personal invitations at you if you'll stop and accept them. And, if you are not seeing them, ask him to resend—I promise he will! 

Isaiah 30:21 states “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

I believe what this verse is saying is that we have to step out, we have to make the first move—then God will present signs, he will speak to you, or set up a divine appointment to confirm you are on the right path. He promises to let you know the way—through scriptures, books, blog posts, emails, songs, coffee with a new friend, and many times through the heart and message of someone else. I love the part of the verse that says “you will hear a voice behind you” confirming that you are never alone, that he is there cheering you on your way, and that he has your back!  

I believe Natalie’s daughter was literally toddling left and right, and God whispered in her ear—"this is the way; walk in it.” and she did and found the little painted rock and set beautiful events in motion. God used a toddler—imagine how he can use you!

Where is God directing you? What path have you been afraid to go down? What risk is waving its hand in your face? What appointment do you need to show up for? Even though it feels scary, isn’t it equal parts thrilling to do something that God is behind?

Why this spot

I chose the DU campus again for this post. It seemed quite appropriate and there are so many wonderful places to wander, sit, and reflect. The little pond you are sitting in front of is surrounded by memorials, one of which to Eleanor Roosevelt. Boy, talk about someone who showed up, who actively pursued her passions, and who would not take no for an answer.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a champion of the people, steadfastly supporting human rights, black rights, and women’s rights. She wrote 27 books and 8000 articles—what a driven and passionate woman. She stayed true to her cause her whole life—focused and determined. A few of her quotes are worth revisiting:

  • “You must do the things you think you cannot do.”

  • “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

  • “For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others”

  • ”The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”

  • “Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never turn their back on life.”

  • “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

Peer down at the little black reflecting pond in front of you. The darkness of the water is striking and offers an almost perfect reflection of the sky above. Let yourself be mesmerized by the duplicate world set beneath your feet. Absorb the world around you from this unique perspective. A reflecting pond expands what is already magnificent—extends the beauty into another dimension, and creates a piece of living artwork. Just like this pool, God can expand our vision, extend our understanding, and magnify our joy and delight. There is so much more than what appears on the surface—look deeper, breath deeper, feel deeper, and seek deeper.

When you look in the water what is different? What is new from this vantage point? What are you struck by? How has God put his fingerprints on this unlikely spot?

Now look up, there is a perfect frame of our glorious mountains—what a blessing to just sit here and drink in the expansive view. We live in a painting don’t we!


I walked around this bench 7 times praying:

  • That you see “God’s sticky fingerprints” all around you

  • That you can be still and hear him whispering directions to you

  • That you would be reminded of early promises you made to yourself—and you are reinspired to keep them

  • That God would show you the spectacular thing he wants you to learn and grow from right now

  • That your trail would be full of adventure, fun, and soul satisfaction

  • That you would have the opportunity to accept a divine appointment and impact the course of someone else’s life

  • That someone would show up in your life right when you need it

  • That today would be the day you believe in him


Things you can do:

  • Do one thing today that jumpstarts your dream

  • Realize there is no coincidence in life—God has master planned your adventures, challenges, and appointments

  • Everytime you see a reflecting pool stop and thank God for his multidimensional love for you. (There are lots of them around the DU campus—go find them all).

  • Walk around the campus at sunset and watch the sky light up

  • Write a comment, prayer, or request below

  • Remember God is bigger than C-19 and has something for you to learn from it

 


My Favorite Meme of the Day

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