The opening text will come from a book by Abraham Joshua Heschel (God in Search of Man - A Philosophy of Judaism). As you are able to see by the title, the language may be a bit dated and therefore, I will, when able, make the language inclusive.
In English the phrase that a person “has presence” is hard to define. There are people whose being here and now is felt, even though they do not display themselves in action or speech. They have “presence.” There are other people who may be here all the time, and no one will be aware of their presence. Of a person whose outwardness communicates something of his/her indwelling power or greatness, whose soul is radiant and conveys itself without words, we say s/he has presence.
“The whole earth is full of (God’s) glory.” The outwardness of the world communicates something of the indwelling greatness of God, which is radiant and conveys itself without words. “There is not speech, there are on words, neither is their voice heard.” And yet, “their radiation goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:4-5).
As I was typing the above selection, I started singing, “Something in the way she moves…” The Beatles song talks about presence. Something is there and it…”woos” me. She doesn’t have to be a super model…there is just…this something…and that something…well I am drawn to it. In the middle of this day, there will be those things around us - actions, objects, interactions – that will remind us of the presence of our God. That “presence” is for many the beginning of a power for life…a power that can keep people moving, acting and carrying out the things of this day with a sense of purpose and direction that they will say comes from something beyond them…something like our God. There is a before dinner prayer/song that says it for me. It begins “Be present and at our table Lord, be here and everywhere adored…” We may only see the people who are around the table with us, but we call on and we expect and we sense…the Lord God, Creator of all that is, to be present.
Connection: Be at peace and be secure…remember that the presence of our God is what often creates the presence we have within our day.
Out of nothing, you O God bring all things into being. Praise be to you for bringing new opportunities into this day and bidding us to come and play within the realm of your love and grace. Inspire us to be aware of your gracious presence and the ways we too are present with those around us. Amen.
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