Thursday, August 19, 2010

PRESENCE

One of my favorite traits of the New Testament is the call to attend to one another; love one another, encourage one another, etc.

Embedded in this concept is what our culture has come to know as presence.  When we reference one who is present, we are indicating they seem to be "with us". 

Presence is a very valuable and important characteristic.  We need it.  It encourages....one another.

What is meant by being present?  Have you ever visited with someone who, while carrying on a conversation with you, is reading a paper or looking about the surroundings?  That person is there but is not present.  Their mind is elsewhere.

To be present is to focus upon whoever happens to be addressing you at the moment with great attentiveness to what they are saying.  This is so important because presence is so encouraging.  It communicates without a word spoken that the one talking is quite valuable. 

The conversation isn't about us.  It is about them.  If it turns to us, we want to respond but turn it back to them soon.  In this move we are present.  We are in sync with the one in our midst and our minds are not out at the lake fishing.

Do well today.  Bless someone by being present when they speak.

3 comments:

Steven said...

Some may not like the movie Avatar. There are good things to pull out of the movie. When the Na’vi get together, they welcome each other with, “I see you”. The expression is more than an unadorned greeting. “I see you” is an acceptance.

What this acknowledgement denotes is merely an understanding. It means that you recognize the other as one like yourself. It means that the ‘I’ and the ‘You’ are the same – parts of a bigger whole.

I met an acquaintance from India. He was a business man travelling and stayed at the YMCA in Wimbledon, England. In his language, Sanskrit, they have a similar term (Namaste) as used in the movie Avatar. This term means, “the God in me see the God in you” or “I see Myself, in your eyes.”

Good post in how to stir the mind in greeting one another. Does this mean have to greet with you with a Holy Kiss now? ha ha.

James Riley said...

This reminds me of a speaker at Harding several years ago who pointed out that early in Matthew, we are told Jesus will be known as Immanuel: God with us. At the end of the book, Jesus says "I will be with you always."

Thanks for the reminder, Terry!

Lee said...

Terry, thank you so much for "practicing what you post". I always feel your presence during our conversations. This is a wonderful, encouraging, and challenging post.