May 22, 2010

Always and Everywhere

"Let us remember that we are always and everywhere in the holy presence of God."

I used to work a second job that had the same alarm system as my day job. One Saturday I went into the part-time job and as soon as I opened the door and heard the alarm pad start to beep, I went blank.

I could remember the code for my day job, but I absolutely could not remember the code for the second job. Oops.

I knew it was written on a calendar in my boss's office...but I couldn't remember which calendar. Was it 1994? 1995? I ran to his office and threw my key in the lock and went straight to the shelf where the calendars were kept and started rummaging through them. The keypad was beeping faster...time was running out.

The alarm went off.

I ran back into the reception area and grabbed the phone. My boss was out of the country, so I called his son. I remembered the last 2 digits of the code that would identify me, so if I could just get the first 4 digits from him, I could shut the alarm off. "Come on, come on, answer!" He picked up the phone and somehow managed to hear me as the sirens were blaring and he gave me the first 4 numbers of the code. I disarmed the alarm and then called the alarm company to have them stop the police from coming.

I explained that I had forgotten the code. "Yes, I know. I could hear you," the dispatcher replied. I had forgotten that the alarm system included audio so the dispatcher could hear anyone who broke in.

I nearly melted in embarrassment as I realize that meant that she had also heard me say "sh*t" 47 times.

I often think of that when I hear a prayer begin with "Let us remember that we are always and everywhere in the holy presence of God." If the dispatcher from the alarm company could hear everything, how much more does God hear and see?

Always and everywhere in His presence...kind of a challenging thought, isn't it? It's so much easier to put God in a box and take Him out on an as-needed basis. But no, we are always and everywhere in His presence.

Always and everywhere.

He's with me when I say sh*t 47 times because I can't remember the alarm code.

He's with me when I get mad in traffic.

He's with me when a Facebook friend posts something on their status that makes me think less of them for just a second...or two.

He's with me when I refuse to speak to someone with whom I disagree.


He's with me when I refuse to help someone in need.

He's with me when I fail to do the right thing.

He's with me when I fail Him.

He's with me when I trust Him...and when I don't.

He's with me when I don't deserve Him.

Despite my failings, He is always everywhere that I am. He continues to forgive me, and He continues to love me. He continues to be there when I need Him.

Always and everywhere. Wow.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

11 comments:

  1. well, that must have been totally humiiating.

    i, of course, NEVER say words like that. :)

    thanks for reminding me of one of my
    favorite scriptures.

    have a lovely weekend. can you believe
    the heat?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rachel Moddow had an amazing monologe the other night about how a tuning fork is always moving, we just don't hear it until the fork is grounded. She was talking about politics, but you post has reminded me that God is just like that. He is always there, always moving even if we don't stop and ground ourselves so that we can hear Him.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Here from Josie's blog. Curious about your blog title, Sane and Single.

    Thanks for this timely reminder which I often do forget that God is always in the midst listening to all.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lea - Humiliating doesn't begin to describe it.

    Katy - I love the tuning fork analogy. We do have to be grounded to recognize His presence, don't we?

    Belizegial - I have considered changing it to Single and "Reasonably" Sane...I still may eventually. Some days I have a better grip on reality than others.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for your prayers for my friend, MaryGrace. I have joined to follow your blog and look forward to getting to know you.
    Blessings and prayers,
    andrea

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, well, you don't want to know what I said when my comment just blew up! God can use anything! Thank you for your post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Loved this post. Very refreshing and honest because every single person on earth has been "caught." Lovely thoughts and so important for us to remember. See? God can use it all and does! (Now I am totally chagrined. This is the "lost" post. Sigh.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful and appropriate psalm. Now, for your story - I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes as I had a similar situation happen, but it was with a car alarm! I still get a little red-faced when I talk about it! :-p

    ReplyDelete
  9. All of you are making me feel so much better about my embarrassing moment. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Let us call to mind that we are always and everywhere in the holy presence of God. . . . this was just in the latest copy of the Eastern Oklahoma Catholic magazine (May 2013). I hadn't thought of it in years and now I've come across your blog and there it is again. I think I'm being told to remember! Your story fit quite nicely with it. AND it just so happens that Psalm 139 is my favorite!

    ReplyDelete