Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?—Psalm 139:7 (NIV)

My son, Solomon, is studying music in film at college. We were on the way to the store when he told me about his latest class where they focus on the intersection of music and its role in movies. 

“So diegetic sound is when the characters hear the sound or music,” Solomon explained. “Nondiegetic is when it is added as part of the experience, like background music, but the characters don’t hear it and aren’t aware of it.” 

I turned off the radio so I could focus on the conversation. “So, listen, Mom, my favorite is when it’s sort of like a trick. Like when you think the character doesn’t hear the music, that it’s for background or effect, but then the character takes off his headphones and the sound stops, so you realize he heard the music all along.” 

That night, as I was falling asleep, I thought about how these terms, diegetic and nondiegetic, could be applied to faith—the times when God is present and I know it, and the infinite times He intervenes, adding His beautiful music, yet I go about my life completely unaware. But my favorite, like Solomon, is when I suddenly recognize His glorious presence has been there all along.