Jacob’s Ladder

A dream. A promise. A stone of remembrance.

The One-on-one God. He shows up in a dream or whisper. Drops a promise on Jacob, like he did to Isaac, like he did to Abraham, like he did to Noah. He never chit-chats. Whenever He has something to say, it always changes everything. His words are never empty. They always seem to affect their target. Lives are never really the same.

In the daylight, I wonder why I don’t hear Him in this way. Where is my promise – my special locution? In the night, I am so glad that I haven’t. Not only for fear of the encounter – but the awareness of what He would ask me to do.

I wouldn’t begrudge Him. I’m just aware that He sees me in my possibility and too often, I’m content with my circumstantial reality. He intends that I actualize in this moment. The only Spanish word I know is manana. There is a reason.

So Jacob makes a vow – a deal. The God of heaven is at the top of the stairway. He seems to accept the offer.

Will I be this bold today? Should I start with a stone of remembrance? Maybe it would help.