Staying Close to God
"How much is enough?" is one a question that has been swimming in my mind lately. The sliding scale of 'enough' is ever evident by people's perceptions of when they are 'hard-pressed' for money. When I was in Brazil, I had my housing/food paid for, and then I had a spending budget of $60/month. Now, Brad and I have a combined income of around $27,000 a year. To me, that seems like enough... much more than what I had before, but to many, that's not 'enough'. But to many in the world, my BVS budget would've been cause for calling me 'rich'. It seems that a feeling of financial security is not determined by dollar amount, but by the society around us. What do others of my class, my position, my family believe is 'enough'?
While I was home, I took a look at the book "Fearless" by Max Lucado which my father was reading. It's interesting that in today's world with such advanced technology and understanding, it seems that we suffer from heightened anxiety and fear. And perhaps in part it's due to our society's focus on individualism. If we have to do it all on our own, that's a lot of pressure. Other cultures of the world handle this situation much differently. They live interconnected lives, where they can borrow/lend/help/give to one another. I realized this most vividly when I told someone about the wonderful joy Brad and I have had to get to watch our neighbor's awesome little 2-year-old boy during the week. We no longer live in a society where it's customary to help one another.
But, can we imagine such a world?
Perhaps it would be a world where we practice the presence of God in our every moment, in all we do... focusing not on the things that we can gain, but the interconnectedness that we all have in being children of the one true God.
"Think of the number of people who have been encouraged in this way by the simple writings and profound life of Brother Lawrence. How vastly enriched we are that he was finally persuaded, almost against his will, to write down how he had learned The Practice of the Presence of God. His famous words still throb with life and joy, 'The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament'" ~From Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster
Many individuals have read this classic book by Brother Lawrence and been inspired by the ability to experience and 'possess' God through even times of 'business.' And there is good reason to believe that we should be able to practice the presence of God... such as we find in the scripture below:
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
This scripture speaks of so many things- God is in all things. In Him all things were created; in Him all things held together. But it is more than that, the Lord entered into us and came to earth so that we would no longer be alienated from Him but able to know and experience the great mystery that Christ is in us now!
However, we may lose our soul if we do not serve the Lord only. In order for Christ to dwells within us and work powerfully in us, as He did in Paul, He must be the only master... just like the scripture from yesterday. 'Here O Israel, the Lord is one.'
'Lose My Soul' by Toby Mac speaks of this struggle, and let it be our prayer today... that we welcome Christ and only Christ into our hearts... so that we do not gain the whole material world at the cost of our souls:
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