What is Coram Deo?

My sister, Vanessa, introduced me to the phrase a few years ago when I was struggling to keep my focus. Vanessa is always the forceful voice of spiritual reason for me. When I feel lost she is always able to help me get back to center. Don't we all need someone like that in our lives? But even if we have them, do we heed them?

Coram Deo. Loosely translated, it means to be "in God's Face" or "face to face" with God.

My wise sister met me in a spiritual place and realized I was frantically looking to and fro from person to person and situation to situation to find security, when what I really needed to do in that moment was to stand still, shut up, and stare God in the face. Literally, to get in His Face so closely that He filled even my peripheral vision....

Just stand there, look Him in the Face, and forget everything else until I could hear His Voice, and stand at peace. And that is what I did. And that is what happened.

Henri J. M. Nouwen, my favorite author, in his book "Reaching Out: Three Spiritual Movements" speaks of moving from a "restless loneliness" to a "fruitful solitude."

Coram Deo.

As I write from time to time in this blog I hope to be very intentional about where I'm going and how I get there and honoring my relationship with the Trinity as I go along.

As C. S. Lewis said, "Further up, and further in!" Come with me.

Coram Deo.

Tess