There’s a memory that has laid very prominent in my mind for years now.
When I first had my spiritual awakening, my studies and practice were very much within the “new age” realm. I had realized the interconnectedness of everything and that my external reality was a direct reflection of my internal one.
I saw everything as codes and energy, flowing and fluctuating.
Synchronicities surrounded me everywhere, constantly confirming this Truth.
It was the main way I was communicating with “The Universe” at the time.
Now, I’m not exactly sure what was going on that day but something very ironic had happened. I was expressing to my mom about how frustrating it was and saying something like, how could this happen? My mom, always being consoling, attempted to turn my frustration into acceptance by saying; it’s funny! The Universe is playing with you, It has a sense of humor!
With synchronicities being a my tell-all at the time, I immediately look over at the clock (as a habit) and read 12:12, confirming that the Universe indeed was playing with me. I couldn’t help but to burst out in laughter, tearing up at how personal this experience was.
From that point on, a subtle feeling of connection with a Higher Power hovered over me; distant, but there.
A couple of years later, I discovered Bhakti, the yoga of devotion. I picked up a small book called Bhakti or Devotion by Swami Vivekananda from my local ashram and fell in love.
What I had learned was this “Universe” I was communicating with was God, He’s a personal God, and wants a relationship with me.
That was when it really dawned on me, I was communicating with something Higher; and it was God!
My path quickly started directing itself toward the practice of devotion; filling my practice, or sadhana, with prayer, ritual, chanting, and remembrance.
A couple of years after that, I strayed from my path. I strayed far and I fell–hard.
I fell so hard I couldn’t show my face at the altar and could barely talk to God.
After a year of wandering and feeling lost, I began to search for my connection with The Lord again. I came upon another small, life-changing book called The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Throughout the entire book, there was one lesson that was constantly shared: Talk to God. It was as simple as that.
If you want to feel God’s Presence always, all you have to do is invite Him into your life and talk to Him.
The author spoke of simple moments he would just remember God and there He would be, listening.
So you know what I did? I did exactly just that; invite God into my life and spoke to Him. Not only did I do just that, I took it a step further and I made a promise with Him:
Assuring that I never wanted to leave His Presence again, I promised that whenever He gifts me with a sign of His Presence through synchronicity, I would stop whatever I was doing and pray.
From the moment I made that promise, God hasn’t stopped showing me He is there. Every day, no matter if through a clock, an address, or someone holding up a sign, He reminds me He is with me.
Currently, as I’m reading The Gospel Of Shri Anandamayi Ma, she has already assured me within the first couple of chapters that once I make a promise with The Lord to show up, He will always grace me with His Presence.
And He has. Every single day, every time.
One simple promise, just like that, changed my entire relationship with God.
And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Thank you Lord,
Your humble servant,
Natalia