Practices of the Present Moment: Glimpses of God's Glory

Mississippi River, St. Paul

“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries
And daub their faces unaware. “ -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

When we slow down and become present to the present moment, we get glimpses of God’s glory. How often we all walk past brilliantly colored flowers and beautiful sunsets without even realizing they are there. We miss the rays of God’s brilliance all around us.

Psalm 19 tells us that creation reveals God’s radiance to the whole earth. Without a word, the Lord’s splendor shines forth:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
    It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Practices of the Present Moment
This fall I am practicing the spiritual discipline of spying God’s glory. Throughout the day I am looking for glimpses of his greatness manifest in big and little events all around me. I am especially attending to creation all about me, and I am seeing with fresh eyes.

Along with the spiritual rhythm of spying God’s glory, I am responding in praise. When I truly see the glory of creation and God’s brilliance shining through it, I cannot help but break into praise of the Almighty!

© 2013 Glenn E. Myers