Practice the Presence: Practice when?

As I’ve said in previous posts I grew up in a very conservative religious atmosphere. We were told that we should do ‘devotions’ every morning before the day started. This way we began the day with an attitude of gratitude and forgiveness. It made sense. But for many years I struggled with that discipline because I was not a morning person. It wasn’t until I was in my forties that I really began to appreciate mornings. Over the last two years that switched back again due to some health issues. Recently that seems to be switching back again.

This morning as I sit by my living room window and watch the neighbourhood wake and see cars moving and people starting to walk – even on a Saturday, I realize how truly blessed I am. I live in a place where, although it’s winter, the temperature only drops below freezing occasionally. There is very little snow. I was surprised yesterday to get up to a weather warning signalling a snow fall and high winds. When I was growing up that meant blizzard. But we had neither in this community. Other parts of the province were not so lucky though.

Practice the Presence: Practice When? As I said in the opening paragraph I was taught that morning was the best time for this. And for many it is the best time. Some are morning people and get up either before or at the crack of dawn and meditate, do yoga, read, pray, exercise. These can and are all expressions of a being present, practicing the presence. For others the morning are early and harried. So it’s not the best time for them. They choose evening or afternoon or after the kids are gone to school. In the years that I struggled to get myself out of bed leaving enough time to practice devotions or meditation I would sometimes just fall asleep! It was really not very helpful. In fact it was downright frustrating.

I have learned that as many ways there are to Practice the Presence, there are many times to Practice the Presence. One of the beautiful things about true spirituality is that rules are gone! You choose to listen to your intuition and see what is most beneficial for you. You choose the time, the place and the way you do it.

Most mornings when I rise I take time to have a decent breakfast and sit quietly often with a cup of coffee. When I am done my breakfast I read a bit and journal a bit. Currently I am in the second year of Melody Beattie’s More Language of Letting Go. I think that I may just continue with Melody next year and do the daily reflections on her website. Some mornings I also may do some meditation depending on how I feel and how much time I’ve allowed myself.

This is my quiet time. This is the time that I reflect and project my life.

But there are other times too. Times when practicing the presence is not about sitting quietly. I have been doing a fair bit of driving this week. I practice the presence then too. I do have to be careful how I do it? It can so relax me that I am not really present to my driving. That can be and is dangerous. But I sometimes choose quiet music like Enya and just breathe, clear non-beneficial energies away, prepare for where I’m going, especially if I have any concerns about the meeting or place I’m heading to. Or, I may just put on something more stimulating and sing my heart out. I love watching the faces of people in the other cars as they chuckle at the nutty singer in the next car. Sometimes I am in a fluster and I take time to acknowledge The presence of One greater than I. And sometimes I take time to acknowledge that I am part of that presence.

Recently I was offered some part-time work doing various tasks for a local funeral chapel. I have officiated at funerals and celebration of life services for years. For a very brief time about 14 years ago, I started to train as a Funeral Director. But to many things that were going on I’m my life at the time I left the program before I ever really got started. I obviously made an impression on my Manager and her District Manager because it is they who called me back. They have both retired now and he and his wife purchased the local funeral chapel and my former Manager is also working there part-time.

I was working as a Director (Usher) at a service last week. As I watched this family pouring out their grief after losing their young son something extraordinary happened to me. He was in his thirties and leaves two small children behind. It was very sad. As I stood there I was suddenly made aware that I could Practice the Presence now! In so doing I became centered and aware of Spirit in a wonderful comforting way. I then projected that upon the family. I blessed them. In my mind’s eye I reached out and touched them and sent them supportive energy. Suddenly the sadness I was feeling was gone from me. I felt that it such a privilege to be part of their grief; to be able to bless them at such a terrible time in their lives.
My Truth:Over the last few of years as my life started to really do the loop-de-loop on the roller coaster ride I have learned that when I call out and ask God to be with me I am reminded time and again, that She already is. I’m just not allowing my awareness to know that He is present. It’s not a matter of Spirit being present. It’s a matter of me being present. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing or how I’m feeling I am always in the Presence. God, the Universe, Spirit, Creator (whatever you are most comfortable using). So really it matters not When I practice, because I can Practice the Presence at anytime under any circumstance. I just need to be present enough myself to realize that I am already in the presence. Practice the Presence: Practice when?