Incense
Reading about the cloud that led the Hebrew people through the desert reminded me of a tradition of teaching we have here in out part of the world.
First let us think about that ancient cloud. To lead the Hebrew people God’s presence would be in the cloud by day and at night it would be a cloud of lightning and fire. You could see the cloud. You could hear the cloud. From time to time the cloud would come down on the tent and Moses and others would pass through the cloud to talk to God. With this thought in mind, remember as a child when your parents would teach you about the smoke from incense? They would explain that your prayers rise to God just as the smoke of incense rises to God. This explanation is used only in our part of the world. In other countries they teach their children to see God in the smoky cloud just as the Hebrew people saw God in the cloud.
You can tell God is with you because you can see Him, touch the smoke, hear your prayers. The smoke permeates your clothing and reminds you of God all day. What a beautiful way to envision the presence of God with you and around you and in you. Maybe you could pick up a little incense and the next time you pray burn a little incense, or a scented candle, and envision God in the smoky appearance of being present to you.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen