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)
