A few years ago some renovations were made in the parish facilities where my daughters were altar serving. The renovations took time, but once done, you could see the previously careful planning.
As part of those renovations, the bathrooms had their turn. The first time we went to the newly renovated bathroom, we discovered a sign that read: “Please keep the bathroom clean, God is watching.”
Certainly, we associate the presence of God in a temple, in our local parish, but the fact that I was reminded of it after using the bathroom did not evoke a pleasant feeling in me.
Giving the benefit of the doubt, I want to assume that the sign had the best of intentions. However, that was not what my daughters or I perceived. The sign evoked a sense of being watched beyond healthy privacy. (going to the bathroom) In addition, the sign evoked a sense that God was watching to see whether or not we were doing the right thing by putting the trash away. That sign generated so many conversations with my daughters for a long time.
The first time we went in, Natalia, my youngest daughter, told me that she wanted to get out of the bathroom as soon as possible, because she felt that God was watching her, feeling relief from that feeling when she got out of there. Also, Jessica, my oldest daughter, said that the sign may didn’t made sense to other people, since there were times when the bathroom had trash on the floor anyway.
Interestingly, that feeling of being watched and inspected by someone looking to find mistakes disappeared once they left the bathroom. As time passed, the sign was more a cause of laughter than a cause for concern.
Now, I offer you these questions for your reflection: where is God for you? And how is God in that place where you find him?
The answer is much more significant than we may initially perceive. It is one thing to act naturally, in a space where we feel received and welcome. In contrast, if we perceive that we are being watched with the intention of finding mistakes to accuse us, that will possibly put us on guard, preparing us to get defensive from a possible attack or condemnation. And those are two VERY different stances.
One way that you too can discover how you perceive God is by observing your internal posture in your personal prayer. Are you relaxed, do you feel received and welcomed? Or, do you feel watched by God, who is watching you to criticize you and have evidence of your mistakes?
According to the answer that arises in you, it will reveal the way in which you interpret the presence of God. If you realize that you feel received and welcome, you perceive that God receives and welcomes you. If you realize that you feel watched, with the purpose of finding mistakes, then you perceive that God is watching you, and He is ready to condemn your mistakes.How is it that you perceive the presence of God?
We know that God is love. But if we don’t perceive it that way, we won’t act as the object off divine love, but as defensive people, and even trying to get out of there, just like my daughters wanted to get out of the bathroom quickly. And/or also like Adam and Eve, hiding…
How do you perceive God?
Remember that I welcome your comments.
