Excerpt from Colossians 1:27-2:7

"For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit.…"

Reflection by Kelly Brill

I'm sure you know what it's like to experience the presence of someone who's not physically with you.  You smell cinnamon rolls baking, and think of your grandmother.  A Beatles song reminds you of your brother.

I have a picture in my office of some classmates; it makes me smile every time I look at it.  Their picture doesn't make me fonder of them, but I know I think of them more often because I see their picture every work day.

Why do we keep pictures of people we love?  It's not because we're afraid we'll forget them.  It's because those pictures connect us to part of who we are, a part we don't want to lose.

So when we're surrounded by depressing news, when we're faced with challenging situations, when we're bombarded with messages that contradict our biblical values, how do we remember who God has called us to be, how Jesus has taught us to live?  Is there a small ritual you can perform each day to help you remember your baptism?  A favorite verse of scripture to put on a sticky note on your dashboard?  God is always with us.   What are some ways we can help ourselves to be more aware?

Prayer

Thank you, God, for your constant presence in my life.  Help me to remember and realize that you are always with me.  And may it make a difference in the way I live.  Amen.

About the Author

Kelly Brill is the Senior Minister of Avon Lake United Church of Christ, Avon Lake, Ohio.