Being in the Presence of God

Church steeple against August sky; taken by author.

One of the hardest parts of twelve step recovery for many is the crucial step of finding their "higher power"---a God of their own understanding that fits their needs and is not dictated by religious doctrine. Many addicts and alcoholics have discarded their belief in the concept of God taught by the religion they were "brought up in." Some feel abandoned by a God that promised so much and yet allowed humans to make choices that created pain and suffering. Others are just plain angry at the God their "religion of origin" taught them about....one that is demanding, judgmental, and punitive.

So, today, I want to offer this quote from Richard Rohr's new book in the hope it will help such individuals find the God of their choosing:

"You cannot not live in the presence of God. You are totally surrounded by God all the time and everywhere. You have no choice in the matter, except to bring it to consciousness....You cannot earn this God by any practice whatsoever. You cannot prove yourself worthy of this God. Knowing God's presence is simply a matter of awareness, of fully allowing and enjoying the present moment. There are moments when it happens naturally, normally when we are out of the way. Then life makes sense. Once I can see the Mystery here, and trust the Mystery even in this little piece of clay that I am, in this moment of time that I am---then I can also see it in you, and eventually in all things."

(Rohr, 2013, Yes, And...Daily Meditations, p. 71)

I find the words in this quote very comforting. It means, to me, that in spite of all those years I spent angry at God and running from God, that God was always there with me. In retrospect, I know God had to be; otherwise I would not have survived some of the dangerous situations caused by my drinking. In addition, through my years of recovery, I have found the other words in this quote to be true. I am very fortunate I have not had to earn God's love or prove myself worthy of being in relationship with Him/Her. I have, in the past few years, begun to understand, accept, and practice the concept of mindfulness....which Father Rohr calls awareness of the present moment. Of course, I am having to start with "baby steps," but my ability to be aware in the present moment is growing.

The key, as pointed out by Father Rohr, to being in God's presence is just getting our selves "out of the way." It is not by accident that much of the work suggested in the twelve steps of recovery focuses on putting "self" in the correct perspective so that God can enter the consciousness of those living in recovery and direct their lives. Anyone, not just addicts and alcoholics, can follow these suggestions for living a life that lets them to be aware of God, to accept the God of their choosing, and to release the bonds of self-will in order to allow God's will to unfold and create miracles in their lives.

So, here are, for me, the highlights of today's "blog message:"

* I am always in the presence of God

* If I get "self" out of the way, I can be aware of that presence

* God's love is always present, it is not earned or given just to those that "deserve it"

* Once I am aware of God, I can allow God's will rather than my own to direct my thoughts and actions

I hope that today's blog will help those who are trying to find the God of their own choosing. That God has always been there; it is just a matter of choice for us to be there with Him/Her. What are your thoughts about "finding the God of your own choosing" who has "been in your own back yard" all along? Please comment. May God bless and keep you.

Note: My apologies to Father Rohr who had "when we are out of the way" printed in italics in his book's paragraph. The "blog program" won't let words be typed in italics, bolded, underlined, or otherwise made to stand out.