Just pretend I'm not here

A parent wanders into a room where their offspring is engaged in some activity. The offspring pauses, hoping the parent will take the hint and leave. The parent carries on with some business in the background saying, "Just pretend I'm not here."

It doesn't work. People behave differently when other people are around. Daughters pause the DVD they are watching whilst their father is in the room. Drivers watch the speedometer carefully whilst the police car is visible in the rear view mirror. Employees are circumspect about their opinions on the workplace whilst the boss is lurking in earshot.

Perhaps that is why God chooses not to make his presence felt for so much of our lives. He doesn't want us to feel that we have to be on our best behaviour because we are being watched. Perhaps he is waiting for us to get to know him well enough that we welcome his presence and long to have him around us - as lovers do for their beloved. Then, when we are living to please him because we want to please him and not because we are nervous of his disapproval, he will make his presence known more clearly.

(above thoughts inspired by John Ortberg's book "The me I want to be")