I often use the weather as an excuse for not starting my mornings with a walk. Too cold, too wet; you get the picture. The other day I didn’t. I toted my umbrella above my head for the 12 minute walk to the park. The cloud cover was thick. I didn’t see a car or pass another person on the sidewalk. It was about 7:30 a.m. when I arrived to a bench and wiped off the raindrops.

Jesus sat beside me.

I wish I remember what I was reading in my little New Testament when I first heard the random popping noises in the air — like muffled gunshots. When I finally rose to go, I realized the sounds were coming from a nearby tree. I said to myself, “I wonder…” and pulled my phone out.

This is what it caught:

I later shared the video with someone who suggested I post it on a local Facebook group for the city of Canandaigua. To my surprise, it went viral. (If that’s what over 7,000 “likes” and climbing means) People seemed to resonate with my “being in the right place at the right time” —a repeated sentiment in the scores of comments that came in.

I couldn’t help but wonder if there is meaning beyond that. Whenever I witness something unusual in nature, I ask Father what it means. It’s been a way He’s spoken to me for years. This time, though, I heard, “Does everything have to have a meaning? Why can’t I simply delight you? What if I wanted to show you appreciation for taking a walk with Me in the rain?”

Back to “being in the right place at the right time.”

Anytime we step out of our comfort zone with Jesus, it becomes the right time.

I then heard, “Stick with me, kid, and you’ll experience even greater things.”

Isn’t that wonderful?

I think the reason the video was enjoyed by so many, is that it’s a first-hand experience by a regular person. Ai wasn’t there. I didn’t plan for it. It was just one of life’s surprises. People crave this. Simple moments that take their breath away.

As I see it, “revelation” from God is like that. We can’t plan for it. There’s a certain timing when God breaks through.

“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you stir not up, nor awake my love before the proper time.” – Song 2:7, 3:5, 8:4.

Three times this statement is mentioned in the Song, and each time it’s followed by the Woman witnessing a sudden “coming” of her Beloved.

That being said, the Woman is positioned for it. If you examine each of the references above, you’ll notice she is always in the arms of the Beloved! We too must foster an attitude of heart where we’re more likely to experience God on a deeper level. Rarely does He fully appear into our screen time, our “vegging out’s,” our wasteful use of time. (unless they are love-nudges) But we are guaranteed that He will draw near to us whenever we initiate any kind of sincere closeness with Him. (James 4:8)

If there’s anything good that came out of catching this tree fall in the moment, is that I’m encouraged to make more of these visitations possible.

So this morning I took another walk. I didn’t experience anything extraordinary this time. Except for a stump, the tree is now a fading memory. But sitting on the same bench, I was able to write down these words.

Jesus was again sitting beside me.