April 23, 2015

PRESENCE

Let’s be honest.

We all know about presence,

whether a person wants to be with us

or whether they feel trapped,

like a prisoner in our presence.

The baby knows.

She knows even when she’s sleeping

whether her parents want her or not.

The old people know.

They know which of their children

are only a phone call

or a visit away.

The team knows whether the cheer leaders

have to cheer or want to cheer.

They know when the crowd

is with them or not.

They know. They can sense it.

The people in the church know

whether the preacher

wants to be in the pulpit or not.

The wife -- the husband -- they both know

whether their marriage

has become a trap -- people living,

people dying in separate prison cells,

or whether their marriage

is an ever expanding universe,

an ever expanding move towards God.

I am.

God is present and we know it.

Presence:

we know these truths about presence

even when we deny them.

And all is touching.

All the cells of the universe

are touching each other,

present to each other,

cheering each other on.

All is present to all.

All is circular.

Everything is present to everything.

Everyone is present to everyone.

Everyone is present to God.

God is  present to everyone and everything.

The universe is a sign

of the ever expanding presence of God,

like the baby to the parents.

My life is touching your life

Life is touching life.

Life is touching God.

Yet some people feel trapped.

They feel like they are dying,

in a closed prison cell,

unable to open up to the presence of another person,
to the presence of God.

And the truth will set you free.

And all cells will be opened. 

(c) Andy Costello