“God Bathing”

We hear often that we should live always in the presence of God. Yet with all the social media, noise, and distractions around us, how is this possible? Actually, we don’t have to think of God every minute of the day to live in his presence. We don’t have to pray constantly to have God with us. God is always there loving us where we are, just as we are.

That is not easy to believe if we grew up thinking we had to do something special or to pray constantly to live in God’s presence. We do not have to earn God’s attention. He is constantly here with us.

Martin Laird compares it to “sinking into God’s being.” David Steindl-Rast refers to “God bathing.” I love the idea of God tenderly washing us clean.  Even when we are not aware, he is there pouring refreshing waters over us.  All we have to do is be there with open hands.

Yet if we are in the throes of pain and suffering or sitting in a prison cell, it is hard to feel God bathing us with his tender love. The idea to let go of all the impediments and sink into God’s being seems beyond us. When we are laid low with fear, anxiety, shame, or condemnation, God’s washing us with his love seems beyond our comprehension. We are too overwhelmed to feel God’s presence. Yet God is there offering love and consolation.

He may do it through people who care for us, those who try to lift us from the pit of desolation or through angelic messengers. We have to keep trying to sink into God’s being and let him enfold us with “love beyond all telling.”  We need to practice “God bathing,” to imagine his soothing waters washing over us.  Always.