Sometimes my mind comes to a screeching halt, and I spend time thinking about a word or two. It never fails that God shows me volumes just through a word. For instance, I believe God reveals Himself and His love every day. If we don't see Him, it is our fault, not His. There are two words, "expect" and "look", that describe how we can choose to see God.

According to Webster's Dictionary, to look means "to use or direct one's eyes in order to see or search or examine", referring to something defined and concrete. To expect means "to think or believe that (a thing) will happen". This definition is a little less precise, a little more abstract.

It seems to me that if we look for God, we limit Him and what He can do. It is like placing Him in our box. If we just expect Him to walk with us and reveal Himself each day, in the way He chooses, then we jump right into His box, which is much bigger and certainly more exciting. Today we can remind ourselves not to look for God, but to just expect Him to be there. How He chooses to be there is up to Him.

Some days, He hides subtly. He might be in the urging to say a kind word to someone who seems unhappy, or He might be in the hug we need at just the right moment. Other days He is blatant and bold, like the incredible sunset I saw the other night, one I would have missed if He had not quietly said, "Go outside for a minute."

Each day is different, except for the expectancy. We learn that God is faithful and will be there. We learn to let Him show up, how and where He wants to. We learn not to look for Him, but just to expect Him to surprise us.

Prayer: Oh Father of great storms and gentle breezes, reveal Yourself to us each day. Give us a searching spirit and open hearts that wait in anticipation of Your Presence. Help us to live our lives so others expect to see Jesus in them. Amen.

The life of a toddler is nothing short of amazing. Everything is new, interesting, and a learning experience. There are no jaded outlooks or set ways to be broken. When you are in diapers, life is a free-for-all.

I learned amazing lessons from my toddler as I watched from the sidelines. For instance, he fearlessly climbed out on the top of his high chair, but he gingerly backed off the four-inch drop on the carport. He might get a bump if he missed the step in the backyard, but he would definitely crack his skull if he took a nose-dive off the top of the high chair! Yet try to explain that to a sixteen-month-old!

Like many of us, he has applied his sense of caution without regard to actual outcome. How many times have I, a grown, "mature" adult, fearlessly attempted the absurd without a moment's consideration of the cost to my mental, emotional, physical or spiritual well being? How many "limbs" have I climbed out on — without looking to see how far it was to the hard ground?

Oh, I have definitely made some ridiculous choices along the way. Like my son who sits on the edge of his chair three feet up in the air, my definition of good was based on what I could see, not on what the true reality was.

His backing off the step is familiar too. He goes with caution, scouting and turning just so, maneuvering until he is absolutely sure he will put his foot in just the right spot — even though he can see safety all the time. Does that ever strike close to home! I have backed up and gingerly stepped a thousand times, and usually it was for things that were really safe and easy. For example, it took years to climb off the step and put my faith in God.

Yet once I finally did take that step, it did not matter if I fell or not, for He was there to catch me and help me try again. I wasted so much time spent worrying about unnecessary details, and all He wanted me to do was to take the first step.

Perched on the high chair, my son made me take endless deep breaths; backing down the steps, he saw the depths of my patience. "Heavenly Father," I asked time and time again, "Does this look and sound familiar?"

Prayer: Dear Father, give us each your eyes and your heart that we may learn to trust you and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Help us to know when to proceed with caution and when to fly fearlessly on your wings, and always to remember that we will never fall so far that you cannot catch us. In Jesus' name. Amen.