A friend cried out, “Why can’t I stay in His presence? I’m looking straight at Jesus, and something earthly jerks me away, and I can’t get back to him. Why?” Her distress filled the room like blood in a furrow.
Why are we so easily distracted? Holy men run to mountains to find focus, and often remain isolated the entirety of their lives. Her cries sounded like she would one day follow them into a cave.
However, this was not how Jesus used his alone time. A couple of hours on the mountainside and he returned refreshed enough to walk on water. Even the chaos of little children did not bother him. Jesus wanted them to play at his feet, climb his arms, and hug his neck. They were the Kingdom of Heaven.
Children are the key. When freighted or sad, they hold on tight. Then, some toy distracts them, and they wander off without a thought. They look back to make sure the adult is still there, still watching. A smile and the child beams, and they return at a run for another hug.
The problem is we grow out of thinking like a child. We reject the basic need for comfort. Adults fend for themselves. We long for love but do not look for security in a hug. We learn the shame of guilt and believe God feels insulted by our negligence. Then, we place ourselves into a pit of condemnation. “How can God love me if I cannot stay focused?”
Adults cry with closed eyes. We glimpse heaven through the bars of our prison and hear our screams echoing off the walls that we have built. Adults rationalize loneliness as our normality and punishment.
Yet, here is the reality. Our Daddy is still there, but we forget to look. We forget that he can penetrate and destroy any wall, even mental ones. The sooner we stop panicking, the quicker we feel His presence.
I told my friend the “trick” I often use (that is when I remember). I sing with the cherubim. It does not matter what I sing or if I hit the right notes. I just need to remember that cherubim enjoy their existence. They sing joy. They dance close to him. Cherubim fill their “Holy; holy; holy,” song with giggles and laughter. When I sing along, I cannot help but hug my Daddy.
This world holds distractions. God knows. He made it that way. However, we should not let distractions rule us. Relax. Take a deep breath and look for Daddy. Ask, “Did he teach me anything by that distraction? Was there something I needed to see or notice that needs prayer? Did I learn to keep one eye on him?”
He is our security. Run to his voice. Feel his hug.
