Aware of the Presence

Without awareness, we live in a fog

Few gospel accounts are as touching as the one in Luke 7:11-17. Jesus is walking along, sees a funeral procession, witnesses the grief of a mother for her only son, and is moved. As the gospel account records, When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

We should remember this account, for it demonstrates to us the compassionate Jesus, who really cares about how we are. He does not delight in our struggles. In fact, he is distressed by them. If he doesn't step in and remove them from our midst, it is not through lack of caring. No. He is allowing the majesty of God to be revealed to us through that trial.

I say this because I find too many who think of God as some far off being, who sleeps beyond the stars, and cares little about the daily events of my life. God is not far, he is very near to us. And it is up to us to discern his care. Perhaps we look for it in the removal of all painful events. But normally, that will not happen. God is near and shows his care through small things, things that we won't even notice unless we ourselves are aware of God.

To believe is to journey. And to journey toward destiny is to remember Divinity within. God is with us. It is for us to make ourselves ever more aware of the Presence. Then, we will realize it when Divinity steps in and raises up our dead spirits and returns life to our souls.

Has Your "I" Seen?

Advent is a time of preparation, of celebration, of recognition. The whole world is caught up in the Christmas mystery, knowingly or unknowlingly. But do we know what constitutes the Christmas mystery? Is it just about the birth of the redeemer? Or is there more to this mystery than a baby in Bethlehem?

In Genesis28:16 we read God, you were here all along, and I did not know it. I believe this is the true Christmas mystery and message Jesus brought. It is as though he says, Hey you! Wake up. God has been here all along, but you have not known it, not recognized it. You look to the heavens for God, and he is already here, right in your midst, right in your soul.  Jesus came along and showed us these things, God is close to us, closer than we could have ever guessed or dreamed.

In Job 42:5 we read I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Has your I seen?