Sign of Paper Lanterns... again

So yesterday or today I was thinking about the sign of the paper lanterns and then Jesus saying 

 in Matthew 16:4 "'A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.' Jesus then left them and went away."

I then compared this to myself, switching in "nonsense dreamer" for "wicked and adulterous generation," but before I could let that hypothetical exchange finish in my mind I heard clearly "you can ask for a sign, I don't mind."

With no regrets, here's how that exchange went.

"Paper lanterns!"

"We already did paper lanterns."

"Paper lanterns again!" *stompstompstomp*

I could almost feel the smiley eye roll as the conversation ended. My mind of course wandered to how time might be wibbly wobbly, and maybe I had inadvertantly asked for the sign I had already seen, always leaving some room in expectations, despite bright eyed loyalty.

Well, today marked the end of my symbolic run/walk... well maybe more like jog/walk, around the lake. I did one run lap and one walk lap each day for the past 6 days, and today I knew I would be doing this pair 7 times. All told in the series this was 26 laps, or 13 units, in silence, symbolic of Jericho, when the walls fell. At the end I even gave a decent volumed "Ha!" with my arms held high (I mean this was 11 miles ta boot!). It was hard, but it felt surprisingly nice at the same time. The sun had now set and it was getting dark. As I was finishing the 1st half/run portion of my last/7th lap, what do I suddenly see? Paper. Freaking. Lanterns. This time they were floating on the lake, just like I had written in the story with Hope (this is actually the exact lake I wrote about with the paper lanterns on the lake, despite us traveling all over the world... with portals!). There were a couple of people with strings of lights in the shape of hearts on sticks as well, to kind of highlight the event further. It seemed like it was a kid's birthday party, which I certainly wouldn't detract from, but as stuff can be two things, and I'm pretty sure these are the only two instances in my life where I have seen paper lanterns in person, I am certainly going to say it was a sign as well. It turns out God was not messing around, and is willing to come what I consider a decent distance across the divide to allow me to call for a specific sign, paint that sign with what might be called "reasonable doubt" (and also called a lack of faith, albeit good natured and in some senses well intentioned, not wanting to press the issue), and then God does it blatantly in front of me anyway.

Needless to say, the very next thing I did after I fully registered this was ask for the sign of my soulmate coming into my apartment. Granted this time I did not hear the same "go ahead and ask for a sign" but perhaps it is an open door type situation? After all, "ask and it will be given to you." (Matthew 7:7). While there is certainly a brazenness in this request, once more I couch my expectations, after all the verse does indicate "it" will be given, not "she" (in fact I have used this precise technicality before, in a fundamental way). I consider this a gentlemanly pebble tossed with an honest and longing heart, but also with an out intentionally couched, should an encounter at the moment still be considered a tad out of season, but a full proof request not being something God would like to decline at this juncture. With highest hopes I listen and watch.