Living Presence            By Sandy Jones

 

Life is God's Divine Presence. I am standing on Holy Ground, I am It. Life and I are the same one. This, right here, here, now is The Living Presence of God living Itself.

In an old church in France, I walked in and there was a sense of Holy Presence. It was in the air, the flickering twinkle of candles in the crystal light, and radiance shinning through the stained glass window. The world inside the church is filled with color, an essence, a beauty. I can sense the memory stored in those stone walls. The frragence of incense, the high ceilings, I hear the old Gregorian chants, I am taken up in the mood and it all combines to awaken, to remind the soul of this abiding Presence.

I am hearing the songs of the temples of India. My imagination takes me there. It is all made for the opening of the senses. I am wakened by the beauty of my own recognition of the holy Living Presence. I hear and see and listen and feel the sights, sounds, chanting, bells, drums, song, color, light, the fragrance of sweet Jasmine and the sparkle of jewels.

I am reminded of my own soul, its eternal life and my deepest memory of being always with God's Living Presence.

I find It again as I take a walk, outside, in the fresh air and nature’s joy in untamed love, the trees, the sky, the rain, the clouds, the light.

I feel it here in the majesty of an old grove of trees. The Love is evident and the Power of Life is Present and Alive here among the ancient forest of trees. The trees speak to me, the trees are alive with God’s beauty. The Life of the trees come through the entire body of our myself.

Then I look and see the crystal clear river, I hear the sound of the river and I feel the cool waters and beauty rushes through me. I listen to all this in silence, I hear the sounds of this sacred forest, the earth and soil. I breathe in the sent of pines and the gentle breeze of timeless mountain air. Open and Listening I follow a small path and go deeper into the forest.

Ah, sweet Life, there is that remarkable silent softness and quiet depth of a holy stillness. Yet in the stillness all is alive with growth and change and movement and time and beauty and I am the very same Life that is bounding along as the gleaming streams and the beams of heavenly light coming down through the leaves.

I inhale the Sweet Peace in the midst of the glittering green wet grassy earth and God's Grace.

But, here is the wonder of it all; I don't have to go the woods or to an ashram. Life is Here, always Here, right where I am. Life is God’s Presence right here being my Identity. Awareness is Here wherever I am.

The orange trees blooming in the back yard are filled with peace and beauty and Love. The dry earth tells me its time to be watering the plants--I turn on the water for the flowers and watch the buzzing bees. It is all dancing, the whole garden full of flowers, right here I am in the light of happy days and cool nights-- and all of this, this self I am, wherever I am, I am with the Living Presence.

Here when I am washing the dishes and here when I type these words, here when the tv is on and here when I am thinking or not.

It is something to note that God does not seem to care if I notice Its Divine Presence or not. But my life is better for noticing It ---and that is Love.

His disciples said to Him :

"When will the Kingdom come?" Jesus said : "It does not come by expecting it. It will not be a matter of saying : 'See, it is here !' or : 'Look, it is there !' Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread over the earth and men do not see it."

 

Much Love, SandyJoy

You are not finished, until you play in that meadow and live there. You can, you know. But only you can take yourself there.

 

 

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