Being Present

It's easy for me to forget that I'm not here on this planet to please myself.  Even though there's a survival instinct that came with the package, I sometimes need to remind myself that survival isn't about being self-centered or trying to build an empire of power or wealth.  Survival also isn't about isolation or separation from others.  Sure, there are times that I need to be by myself.  We all need that from time to time.  We need to relax, pray, play, and recharge the body's systems so that, together, we can fully engage life.

It's easy for me to forget that ours is a shared experience because of the "To-Do" lists, the bills, the chores, the responsibilities, and the way I seem to run through time.  And I also have moments when, even though I am present with people, I'm really not there.  My mind is a million miles away whirling through all the things that I "have" to do.  And if I'm not careful, when my presence is needed most, I miss a moment of shared grace with someone.  All because I'm distracted.

I wonder how God feels when wanting to share a moment of grace with us, and we miss the still, small voice - or loud, booming one?  Do you think God mopes when we sometimes don't pay attention?  Because we'd rather hunt through Home Depot for the most obscure item that we "have to" have, than sit outside in the sunshine and feel the presence of God in the wind or the silly squirrels?  I don't think God mopes, but I think God's heart breaks a little bit.  And I think it breaks for us, not for God.  See...God's nature is all about sharing love.  God just wants to give love.  So much so, that God spoke Creation into existence - as an act of love, and to continue to share love.

Yet, for some reason, we humans tend to hold onto stuff instead of sharing.  That hard-wired survival instinct kicks in, but goes a little haywire and tries to tell us that we can't give away our time, our love, our feelings, our money, or our coffee.  The more we have, the more we feel "safe."  But the reason God gives out love is so that we can stay connected to the One who helps us live fully awake.  Fully alive.

So here's my suggestion for today.  If you have windows you can open, open them.  Let God remind us of our connection with the world outside our home, office, or car.  We are connected to one another.  We share space with each other.  We need each other's presence - annoying at times and all.  Or better yet, get outside.  Listen.  Share.  Move.  Talk.  Listen.  Smell.  Laugh.  Cry.  Do all these, if you can, with someone else, or with a group of others.  I think when we're truly present with others, God's heart gets happier.  So much so that it spills even more love back into our lives.  And so on, and so on.  Here's to the Great And So On.

Prayer

This week at church, we're going to talk about prayer - what it is, and how we should pray.  And I'll admit, at times the topic of prayer gives me the "doe in the headlights" stare.  Meaning, sometimes I think I'm doing okay with prayer, and other times...well... not so good.  There are moments when the words flow without thought; they are natural, and authentic.  I also have moments of "prayer block."  What comes out is clunky, cold, and shallow.  Not that I ever want the words from deep within my soul to be clunky, cold, or shallow.  But that is what they are sometimes.  Even when my intentions are pure, and I am trying to shoulder someone else's grief or burdens by offering words to our Creator, sometimes the words get stuck.

So what is prayer?  Why do we pray?  What should we pray?  How do we pray?  Yes, prayer is something we do, but I've learned along my journey that prayer is more a way of life.  Something as simple as acknowledging my neighbors with a smile, a hello, or that man-head-bob that says, "'Sup?"  - that's prayer.  Prayer brings us into a sacred time and space, no matter where we are, and links us to God and each other in ways beyond mere words.  And as we go about our daily lives and interact with one another, there are numerous opportunities to be the answers to others' prayers.  Sharing space and time, a meal, a laugh, a hug, a caring hand of help, a voice for those who are overlooked, a moment of silence to listen for God's still, small voice - all this allows us to enter into prayer.  Time with God, and with others.

Jesus gives us insight about prayer when he's giving the Sermon on the Mount.  He says we shouldn't be showy and don't need to use big words and antics to get God's (or people's) attention.  He says we should go into a private space and give God our complete attention.  When we talk to God in prayer, first we acknowledge God - whoever God is for us.  Then, we confess whatever's on our hearts and mind - things where we feel we've fallen short.  Then, offer God thanks for all our daily provisions.  After all this, we bring our requests to God for others and ourselves.  It's simple in format, but as with anything meaningful, it takes a commitment of practice.

So here's to practicing today's prayers - in their countless shapes and forms.  Spoken.  Unspoken.  Doing.  Giving.  Love.  Dessert.  Forgiveness.  May our Creator inspire us, challenge us, and remind us who and whose we are today through prayer.

Love

Okay...I'll admit it.  It's been a tough week.  Lots of stuff going on at the moment that's vying for my attention, including the unexpected death of someone I recently met - and instantly loved.  It was a shock to me and definitely to family and friends.  As I spoke with friends and family in preparation for the funeral tomorrow, I heard the word love used a lot to both describe this person and how this person approached life.

And that got me thinking about the love in my life.  And once again, I am able to breathe a little easier and feel God's peace wash over me to calm the chaos in my spirit.  I am grateful that in the midst of noise and clamor this week, I was able to spend some time with my daughter and her BF.  I am glad that she makes good, loving choices in her life, and her BF is proof of that.  In fact, 99.9% of her friends are proof of that.  Hey...I can't say 100% because no one's perfect :-)

And I'm soulfully grateful for my wife.  She is without a doubt the best part of my life.  Because of her, I can see God's love in my life and in the lives of all she touches; I can feel God's presence in this world; I experience God smiling down upon Creation; and I am a better man because of her influence.  She believes in me.  Like God believes in me.  She challenges me.  Like God does.  She accepts me, warts and all.  Like God does.  Sometimes, she frustrates me.  Like God sometimes does.  She's not perfect, but she sure does live into the image after which she was created.

And I am eternally thankful for all the family in my life.  They all have left their marks on me - some more than others.  But all have left a part of themselves with me.  And what would life be without friends?  This week we made 2 new good friends, and we will spend time with 2 good old friends.  Not old, as in chronologically superior, but old as in - we've known them a while.  And have been through a lot together.  And I look forward to catching up, and hearing what's going on in their world.

Life is often messy.  Sometimes broken.  Love helps clean up the messes and is the glue that holds us together.  And love is more than a squishy feeling inside.  Love consists of all the things we choose to do for those around us - whether they love (or even like) us in return.  This God-inspired type of love forgives, moves on, matures us, reconciles us, heals us, sustains us.  So whether you feel like you have love in your life or not, you do.  Turn to the One who created you.  Open your heart, mind, body, soul, and life to the One who is love, who is always with us, and always loves us!  May you feel love today!