spirituality of presence and the sacrament of the present moment

The most sacred, most ordinary, and most necessary practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God. When we practice the presence, we enjoy and become familiar with God’s divine company. —Brother Lawrence 

It seems that simply allowing ourselves to be here, to recognize the sacrament and the grace of the present moment, is enough to allow God’s loving gaze to happen. What we are doing.. is returning the gaze. That’s it. We are completing the circuit and saying it’s okay.  --Rohr

To understand the world, knowledge is not enough, you must see it, touch it, live in its presence.  —Teilhard de Chardin,  Hymn of the Universe  

Several times during the day, ask yourself for a moment if you have your soul in your hands, or if some passion or fit of anxiety has robbed you of it.  Quietly bring your soul back to the presence of God, subjecting all your affections and desires to the obedience and direction of his divine will.   –St. Francis de Sales

The purest form of spirituality is to find God in what is right in front of you—the ability to see the sacrament of the present moment.  – Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675–1751)           

Thich Nhat Hanh has said: “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now…. It is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice.” 

What God wants is simply our presence.  Richard Rohr reminds us that “we cannot attain the presence of God. We’re already totally IN the presence of God.  What is absent is awareness”. –David Benner

But if we can connect with the Indwelling Presence, where the “Spirit bears common witness with our spirit” (see Romans 8:16), it can and will change our lives! This mutually loving gaze is always initiated by God and grace. Once you learn to rest there, nothing less will ever satisfy you.