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.