Why surely the Lord is in this place

In the 28th chapter of Genesis it is told how Jacob was traveling and had stopped at night in the wilderness to sleep. The story says that as Jacob dreamed, “The LORD stood by him” and spoke promises to him: “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Many years ago, my future wife, Denise, and one of her closest friends, Connie, enjoyed the opportunity to travel to London. Upon arriving at their hotel, they were informed that, due to unforeseen circumstances, their rooms were no longer available. However, the staff had arranged lodging for them at another hotel, The Queen’s Gate.

The Queen’s Gate is one of the oldest and most historic hotels in London; but had recently been remodeled. The rooms, like most hotel rooms in London, were very small with high ceilings. One of the things that made the rooms enjoyable was the acoustics. In the rooms, and even out into the hallways, a normal speaking voice reverberated with mellowness.

As Denise and Connie stood with key-in-hand before their fourth floor hotel room door, they were entertained and mesmerized by the elegant, strong voice of a man who was singing in his room at the end of the hall. Jokingly, they giggled to one another, “What! Are we sharing the same floor with Pavorotti?”

But even in the hall the acoustics were extraordinary and evidently they were heard. The door at the end of the hall opened and a man put out his head and looked down the corridor at them. Still giggling, but now embarrassed, they fumbled with their key, opened the room door, and hurried in, escaping the man’s gaze.

A week or so later, they were back in the U.S. at their separate homes. One evening, it so happened that both had tuned their TVs to a PBS special, The Three Tenors. At her home, and unfamiliar with the trio, Connie remarked to her husband, Bob, “That man looks just like a man that Denise and I saw in London.” “That’s Luciano Pavorotti,” said Bob. Immediately, Connie called Denise on the phone: “Denise, did you see the PBS special? Do you know who it was that we saw in the hall at The Queens Gate?”

In the presence of greatness, and unaware of it. Just imagine what could have taken place. An autograph, a handshake, introductions, a visit, and perhaps even a cup of tea.

“Oh!” our hearts exclaim, “if we had only been in their place.” But the truth is that we are often in their place. In the presence of a Greatness beyond our fondest dreams; but we didn’t expect it, didn’t recognize that Greatness had escaped God’s gaze, God’s visit, God’s blessings.

In the hour of worship, in the silent moment of prayer, in the grandeur of nature, at the side of a hospital bed, in the guilelessness of children, at the burning bush of challenge...surely the LORD is in this place.