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Here, There.....





Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)

     After spending some time considering God's omniscience, His knowing  all, yesterday we turned to the second of the big three "alls": omnipresence, His being everywhere. It's another way in which He is the God who sees. He's there, of course He can see. 
      There's a book by a lay monk (the sort who was limited to the more practical stuff done around the monastery) called Brother Lawrence. It's called "Practicing the Presence of God" and it's one of those books that has been on my "to be read someday" list for a long time. Apparently, he was discouraged with the menial labor he did, and somehow got the idea to focus on God's being present in everything he did - even washing the dishes.
     I have tried this a few times. Part of the problem I found was that I have a hard time staying "here," being present and focused on what is in front of me. Even if God's here, I'm not. I'm off thinking about this or that, which makes it difficult to meditate on God being here. That doesn't mean that God is not where my mind is, too - we have wonderful conversations there, but when I'm there I'm not here so I don't notice that God is here, too.
      One of the things that God being here apparently taught David is that he didn't need to fear. One of the things it apparently taught Brother Lawrence was that there is no menial manual task. They are all acts of worship. We may have the habit of asking God's blessing on a meal, or  on some "important" meeting or some task that causes us concern - but do we ask His blessing on us as we make our beds, do the laundry or clean up after kids or pets? Here's my challenge to myself, and you may join me if you wish. Starting today, I'm going to ask God to make me aware (or remind me) that He's here in some way through the day - and perhaps that I would be here with Him at least part of that time.
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January 24 - Wolf Moon

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