United Church of Christ Daily Devotional 29th May 2025, Thursday Message
Presence
By Quinn G. Caldwell
[God] said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14 (NRSV)
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Thank God for the ability to filter the inputs the world throws at us. What if you were forced to pay full attention to every conversation around you on the train or every bird and dog outside the house? Focusing, filtering is the only way to get through for those of us with finite brains.
Then again, we’ve all looked up from our phones at our kids across the room and realized how much we’d just missed. Or been so lost in thought we walked right off a curb or into a person. The gift of focus that allows us to filter so much out when we need to, sometimes means that we end up filtering so much out that we shouldn’t.
“My presence will go with you,” says God. “I will go with you” would be a simpler way to put that, but God’s trying to make a point. The word here translated “presence” is elsewhere translated “face.” As in, “Do not turn your face from me,” or “May the Lord make their face to shine upon you.”
God’s not saying that God will only be along for the ride, physically in the same car but staring out the far window. God is promising the people that God will not just be with them, but also focused on them. Not just God’s presence, but God’s presence, you know? God’s regard and loving care and soft-eyed crooked-smiled gaze. And that, in that intense but gentle looking, they will find rest.
I don’t know whether it’s even possible for an infinite consciousness to focus and filter. All I know is that whether it’s possible or not, what gets filtered out won’t be you.
Prayer
Never turn your face from me, O God. Amen.
About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is Chaplain of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.
