Called to Be Present

For several years, my husband and I volunteered in the pastoral care department at Missouri Baptist, a hospital in St. Louis.  Before beginning, we had three Saturday workshops, led by two chaplains and a nurse.  In the first session, the pastoral care director stressed the importance of being present with a patient, sitting there and listening, perhaps offering to pray with them or share encouragement in some way.

               The importance of being present with another person has stayed with me even though our pastoral volunteering has ended.  Life has its lonely and scary times even if we are committed Christians and have good, supportive relationships.   The scriptures reveal that God calls us to a life that includes being present with others who are in need and being present with God.  We are to welcome strangers, visit the sick,  pray with and for one another, especially for forgiveness and healing.  Ministering to others, being physically present with them, might also mean just showing up with muffins and coffee, spending time with them very purposefully if needed.  It is a little less like doing and more like being.

               “Being with God,” purposefully, sitting in His presence, is even more challenging.  “Western Christians are used to the Protestant work ethic of . . . ‘Don’t just sit there, do something’ . . . This doesn’t mean sit on your hands and do nothing but to prayerfully be led by God into what you do.  This is to live a life dedicated to both being (contemplative) and doing (active).” (These Days, Presbyterian publication).  Praying, reading the scriptures, listening to Christian music, pouring out our thankfulness, petitions, and/or deep discouragement and fear to Jesus takes time and effort.  An expectation that our loving Father and His son hear and “speak” to us as we do is a strong motivation. 

               The story of two sisters illustrates the importance of being present with Jesus.  Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much service.”  After Martha came to Jesus and complained about having to do so many things, Jesus replied, “One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39-42).  Being in Jesus’ presence has manifold benefits:  guidance, peace, encouragement, enriched faith and hope, and more. 

               This morning I was unusually upset which led to a major, tearful meltdown.  Fortunately, I have a husband who “was present” with me.  We have been doing some Bible reading together, about one chapter at a time.  We were ready for chapter 8 in Luke, and I asked if we could read a chapter and pray.  What was in that chapter offered me fresh encouragement and reminded me of scriptures that have meant something special to me in the past.  A favorite line in the Gospels is when a disciple asks Jesus if He cares that they are perishing as their boat is battered relentlessly by a storm.  Of course He cares, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.

               Taking that little bit of time to be present with God, to listen and gain new faith and trust, certainly helped turn me around, “renewing my mind” as Paul calls it (Romans 12:2).  Busyness—life for many in modern America—can rob us of being blessed and giving blessings to others by being present with them and present with Jesus.  What will you choose today?