GOD’S PRESENCE
By Deborah Schoenfelder
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
(Matthew 18:20)
“Surely the Presence of the Lord” is a favorite song of mine, reminding me of the soothing and continuous company of God. For me the song evokes feelings of warmth and peace. How comforting to think of hearing “. . . the brush of angels’ wings . . .”, as the hymn suggests. Ask any number of folks how they feel the presence of God in their lives, and I imagine you will get a different response from each person. How wonderful!
A particularly vivid and powerful memory for me occurred when I was an adolescent growing up on our family farm in southwest Iowa. On a summer evening, I had walked the quarter of a mile to the wooden bridge that leads into one of the fields. There didn’t appear to be a cloud in the dark sky, so that the stars were brilliant. I laid down on that wooden structure for quite some time, gazing up at the stars in complete wonderment. Why do I remember this seemingly insignificant experience so clearly? It’s because of what I felt: Awe, contentment, and joy. As I think about that recollection many years later, I now have an understanding that I was in God’s presence. What a fantastic realization for me! In the same vein, here’s an excerpt from the October 2014 issue of Response magazine on practicing wonder: “Find a place in the natural world where it is easy for you to go regularly. Go there as often as possible and be still, simply observing, getting to know life there. Allow yourself to feel wonder.” (p.10).
And of course in addition to feeling God’s presence in the quietness of being alone, we are also blessed with His presence when we are in the company of others. For example, the look in my beloved mother’s face when we visit her, the sound of our grandchildren giggling, the voice of a dear friend telling me I will be okay, or the comfort of worshipping with our faith community family. He is truly everywhere!
Prayer: Dearest God, knowing that I am never alone is such good news. I need to slow down, listen, and be open to letting you in to every crack and crevice of my life. I am grateful for all the blessings I experience. Help me understand that because of you, I can face whatever comes my way. In grateful love and praise, AMEN.
Leave a Reply