My Burning Bush

I listened to a BYU devotional today given by a former professor of mine.

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2221

In his address, he describes an experience in which the Lord confirmed a correct decision. He told his wife, "I know it. I couldn’t be any more sure than Moses and the burning bush.” This address was, in turn, a confirmation to me from the Lord. It affected me in such a personal way that I wrote to the professor and sent him the following email:

Dear Bro Parker, 

I am a former student of yours. I believe I took your Book of Mormon class in 2005, and it had a profound influence on my life. Because of this, when I was browsing the BYU devotionals today looking for something to listen to while cutting my husband's hair, I noticed that you gave a address recently and we decided to listen to it. 

I was particularly impressed by your story about looking for a house in Tucson. I have only been to Tucson once, and I thought it was the ugliest place I had ever seen. I felt like it was sucking the life out of me, and I swore I could never live there.   

Then last week, my husband was offered a faculty teaching position at the University of Arizona. It is his first job after he will (hopefully!) finish his doctoral dissertation. We are thrilled with the offer. However, I have struggled immensely at the thought of living in Tucson, especially after residing in lush Oregon for the past four years. I have wondered if the Lord would really provide a situation for me where I could feel at home. I have prayed continuously to see the good in this opportunity and to be happy about moving there.  

Tonight, as I listened to you describe your dismay at searching unsuccessfully for a place to live amid the unfamiliar territory of desert rocks and cacti, tears began to well up in my eyes. When you described reading in the scriptures the words "Thou hast prepared a house," and then finding that house, confirmed with signs from the Lord, I had to stop cutting my husband's hair because I couldn't see through the tears. Your devotional address was the sign to me that God has a place prepared for us in Tucson, and that this is where I am supposed to go.  

Coincidence? I think not. 

Thank you for sharing this story. I hope it had meaning for many in the audience, but it felt like you were giving it just for me. It was an answer to my prayers. I will go forward in faith, knowing that the Lord is mindful of me in this situation. Thank you for being the medium through which He could send this message.