A popular song from years ago titled “From a Distance” envisions a world
of harmony and peace. It says, “God is watching us from a distance.” Indeed God
is watching us, but not from a distance. He is present, in the room with you,
right in front of you, gazing at you with unbounded love in His eyes.
I think of the example of Brother Lawrence, who spent long years working
in a kitchen washing pots and pans and repairing the sandals of other monks. He
wrote: “As often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before Him, fixing
my mind upon His holy presence.”
That is our task as well. But we forget and sometimes need reminders of
His presence. I have driven an old handmade nail into the shelf over my desk to
remind me that the crucified and resurrected Jesus is always present. Our task
is to remember to “set the Lord always before [us]” (Ps. 16:8)—to know that He
is with us to “the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20) and that “He is not far from
each one of us” (Acts 17:27).
Remembering may be as simple as calling to mind that the Lord has
promised to be with you all through the day and saying to Him, “Good morning,”
or “Thank You,” or “Help!” or “I love You.”
No one can come so near that God is not nearer still. (RBC)
