“The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4
It’s late. Everyone is finally off to their own rooms, preparing to sleep; some are already successful. I head for my quiet spot, the master bathroom. It’s very small, built for usefulness, not flair. With the door closed, as it will (which is almost), all the lights on and the exhaust fan rattling out the household noises that remain, it is my only refuge. There I read and write and pray and listen for God.
Before too long a paw reaches under the door and pulls it open enough for one (or more) of my cats to come in. At first they are content to lap at the water dripping from the faucet, soon curling up in the oval shaped sink, lightly dozing. Most of the time they wait patiently for me to finish, but on occasion they will try tenaciously to get onto my lap for hugging and petting, sending books and Bibles, pens and paper flying. Giving in is the best defense, fighting back by trying to chase them off creates a greater distraction than taking a few minutes to love on them. They so desperately want to please, having no idea that they are in the least bit annoying. Soon I set them back down, retrieve my papers and books and go back to praying and listening – and hoping once again to be anointed and used by God.
There are times when I’ve wished I could remain there for days at a time, but responsibility calls. I have spent many wonderful hours there, in communion, not wanting to leave. Fatigue and worry escape me there – as does time, sometimes putting my night’s sleep at risk.
It’s just a bathroom, with its own white noise and its own bright light, generally shared with several purring cats, waiting contently in the sink – but to me it becomes Eden. A place where I go to seek the face of God and talk with Him in the cool of the evening. It’s there that I remember to thank God for the little things that He does to show me His love.
I thank Him, that even in the inner city, without a natural setting to run to, I have a bathroom, big enough to hold one small bookcase and lots of pens and paper. I thank Him that I have cats who remind me to always take time for a hug and a kind word. And I thank Him for the understanding that no matter where I am, God will be there to meet me.
Linda J. Humes 
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