You can live in the awareness of our Lord's nearness through faithful prayer and by envisioning him with you.

That discipline is poignantly illustrated in the story of an old man who suddenly became gravely ill. When the pastor came for a visit he noticed a chair beside the bed. "Oh my goodness," he said, "You must have already had company today."

The old man said, "No, but let me tell you the story of the chair. Years ago I told a friend that when I prayed at night I frequently fell asleep right in the middle, or I just couldn't concentrate on what I was praying about. So this friend suggested that I put a chair by my bed and imagine that Jesus was sitting there because, you know, he's promised to be with us. So, I started doing that and, you know, it made a big difference. Sometimes I even think I see him sitting there."

After having communion with the man, the pastor left. Later that evening he got a call from the daughter. She said, "Dad just died. Can you come over?" So the pastor went to see her. The daughter said, "You know, I was in the room and dad seemed okay, he wasn't struggling or anything. I left for just a minute. When I came back, he had peacefully died. But there was something quite strange. Somehow, he had managed to turn over on his side and stretch out his arm and place his hand on the chair."

That's living in the presence of Christ. And it happens. It can happen for you, as it can happen for me, at any time. Oh, not to all in the same way, because Christ comes to each of us individually and uniquely. But in solitude and need he will come. He will come because he has promised!