Advent, a good time to go to God

AND GOD SAYS:

“I keep calling to you but you do not come.” 

I couldn't until I was sure there was nowhere else to go.

Florida Scott Maxwell

I totally relate to the quote above.  First of all, let me say this:  turning to God does not necessarily mean that I’ve been away from God.  God surrounds me like the air I breathe.  God is the Source of my life and all life and I can’t really get away from the Mystery of that Amazing Presence.   I can, however, move through my days as though everything depends on me.  I can wear myself out because I forget to remember to breathe.  Well, of course I breathe whether I remember that I am breathing or not but it is so much more enriching when I can truly be in the breathing.  

  

Imagine that you live your life beside a flowing stream; the water is always moving.  The stream provides a kind of natural music for your soul.  The sun rises and sets.  The seasons pass over the flowing stream.  Plants grow. Birds sing and drink and play in the waters.  Only you~~you never seem to come. 

What healing presences are you missing in your life right now simply because you don’t hear them calling to you?  What are you missing because you are rushing around doing important things?  These are good questions.  In some way God is always calling us deeper into the mystery of life, calling us to the Source.   To hear this call we have to stop.  We will not be able to hear the call ‘on the run’ unless we also learn to stop.  To rest!  To be!  To linger!  To dwell!  To enjoy!  To see!  To hear!  To abide!

God is somewhat like that stream and concerning the quote above, perhaps there are times when we don't go to God because we don't know what to say.  Or perhaps there are times when we don’t go to God because we think we don’t have time.    I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Words are the least important part of prayer; we don't need a lot of words to pray.  We just need a lot of presence and mindfulness.

The season of Advent can assist us in remembering that we have nowhere else to go except to the stream of living water.  Let the sunrise of God’s Presence shine on you during this holy season.  Get out your hopeful heart. 

Put your feet in the stream

 of living waters and 

wait for God.