"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I have to admit, I loved the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). That flick was a one day adventure on steroids, wide open with the pedal to the metal. It encompassed many of the teen shenanigans that I myself employed to keep life interesting in the strange season of life called the teenage years. Apart from the movie and it's questionable, but comical content, I like the line stated by Ferris as a philosophical observation about the value of life itself.
Life at 100 mph can do a number on you and cause stress, fear, anxiety and disorientation. You look up and days, weeks and in some cases years have passed. I don't want life to go by in a blurr and I awaken only to find that I missed so much that Jesus had to offer. No need to live a life of regret. One of the most impactful spiritual disciplines (most people hate the "D Word") I have encountered was discussed and written about in a series of letters by a Spanish Monk named Brother Lawrence in the 1600's. Sometime later, a missionary to the Philippines, Frank Laubach, also wrote about his experiences of practicing the presence of God in more modern context.
For me practicing the presence of God is simply keeping God/Jesus/Spirit in your conscious thoughts throughout any given day. It's not deep, complex or advanced spirituality... but it's not easy either. We are plagued by a myriad of distractions that cause our minds to be occupied by other things. It's an ongoing experiment of trying tokeep Him in your thoughts while doing the most minute things. When there is some measure of success you experience the peace that passes all understanding and it's almost like you are carried along throughout your day. I even notice that people engage me with friendly smiles and nods of acknowledgement. It lifts not only the person doing it but those around you as the fruit of God's Spirit flows naturally out of you. You leak out the goodness of God that's in you and it touches every person you encounter.
Attempt this holy experiment on a practical level by humming a familiar hymn or worship song that causes you to speak or sing directly to Him not just about Him. Talk conversationally with Him as though He is your closest companion... because He is. Bring Him into everything you do i.e. your work, class and home. Make Him the center of the most mundane of tasks and that moment will become a holy moment because He is there. Talk to Him about the people that you personally encounter during a typical day. Instead of only thinking thoughts to yourself, turn your inner monologue into a dialogue between you and your heavenly Father. He is near and He's waiting to spend quality time with you.
Spend this moment, this hour, this day enjoying His presence by practicing His presence. You have nothing to lose, but so much to gain. Enjoy your holy experiment in growing in grace because "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Grace & Peace
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