presence

Presence is an important reality that many of us take for granted.

I’ve been living vicariously through a friend who has been house sitting/dog sitting. I often did that in my normal life. (PS-good tour preparation) I smile at the fact that houses need to be sat. I’m sure they get lonely. I remember the day I returned from my Christmas holiday to find my house at school the same temperature as a walk in freezer. The heater had broken- a sure sign of the house’s disgruntlement from our extended absence. But I digress.
Apart from the obvious and intensely important reasons one should “house” sit, dog sitting ranks up there in worthwhile activities as say visiting old folks homes and playing the flute for church. These experiences are meant to take you out of yourself and appreciate other’s needs and well being. And to a dog-sat dog, presence is all that matters. “Presence” can turn into petting, hopefully feeding and watering, and maybe even walking. Pets usually respond to people and feel a great deal of impact when the human is gone. That’s why dogs run to a newly-arrived guest or mom as she walks in the door from work. They want the attention, the company that doesn’t require anything but one’s existence.

I had a reminder of this simple idea as I came home from grocery shopping the other day. Though it didn’t take too long, the kids seemed to think I was gone for an eternity. On top of it, they weren’t just happy to see me and say hello, but they wanted me to hug and pet and hold them and tell them stories.

Sometimes in life our presence is our job. That’s the purpose for the season, and even in the midst of doing other things, being “here” matters to the people around you, especially to the small people. They hold dear to the time spent as if I had deposited a handful of money into their pocket. A wise teacher once said to me that how we spend our time determines our priorities. Therefore, if we are willing to spend our time being present to a friend at coffee, sister over the phone, child on the swing, God in the quiet, we are setting a precedent of importance and value. It can and should be intentional, but even when it’s not, the committed presence impacts that life.

That’s how God did it. He decided to be present with his people. Not just to send representatives or messengers. He sent himself through Jesus to spend the time, to interface, and to grow people in a way that would have lasting promise.

Let’s not be discouraged that being present doesn’t always finish with a end product that can be quantified or hung on a wall like a degree. Instead, let’s realize the gift of being alive to be present or the joy of being that which brings a smile to someone’s face.