We go through life, and it is good. But there is no electricity in it. There is no vibrancy, no overweening joy, no radiant well-being.
This is because we no longer feel the presence of God in our life. We can get along quite fine without God. There are many acceptable substitutes such as Netflix and Hulu and video games.
We rarely go to the mandir or church or mosque. And when we do, it is a mechanical visit largely stripped of any spiritual significance or reverence.
As Anthony DeMello points out, the reason we feel so empty is because there is no God in our life. We not only do not feel His presence, we do not even recognize that the malaise we are engulfed by is because we do not feel that presence.
So how do we go about feeling that warm glow and keeping it with us at all times?
It is simple. Pray to feel that presence in your life. In an earlier blog I advised you to ask for what you want but not to beg or importune. But when you are seeking to feel God in your life, it is just fine to beg, beseech, plead and pray. Ask sincerely to feel that radiance. Do not give up or be put off. Remember the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. She begged Jesus to cure her afflicted daughter and he rebuffed her. But she persisted and reminded Jesus that even dogs ate crumbs that fell off the master’s table. And he relented and her daughter was cured.
So pray to Krishna or Rama or Jesus or Allah or Guru Nanak or Buddha or whoever is your inspiration. Are you an atheist? No problem. Pray to a sentient Universe and ask for it to bathe you in the knowledge that it is benevolent.
This is a prayer that will be answered, and you have to persist with intensity till it is. If you don’t have that intensity, then pray to be given that intensity.
You will get your answer and a shower of grace and thereafter you will be able to walk in the valley of the shadow of death in perfect serenity.
Find this out for yourself.
Peace!
P.S.: Read The Art of Meditation by Joel Goldsmith for practical steps on how to bring the presence into your life.
