Presence

Presence

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

MY HUSBAND AND I got married at 10 a.m. on a Saturday. Our brunchtime wedding on a brisk March day is the only wedding at which I’ve eaten bacon and French toast. Not long ago while cleaning our home office, I stumbled on our wedding video. As Tim and I watched it, I again witnessed my walk down the aisle, my husband’s tears, our vows, and our joy. But as special as those moments were, it was the glimpse of everyone who attended that resonated the most.

I saw my now-grown nephew as our patient ring bearer, shuffling his feet and scratching his face as he squirmed through the event. I saw my now twenty-year-old niece, hair curled, directing her little brother.

And as the guests filed out at the end of the ceremony, I saw Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Michael, and Uncle Fritz—all now deceased—make their way out of their rows. Those few, fleeting moments of watching them brought to life again made my eyes blur with tears.

It was their presence, and that of the rest of our family and friends, that made the occasion memorable.

Whether we are in the company of someone else or fully present as a state of being, there is an immediacy in the word presence. Our choice to be fully present helps others to feel seen, known, and cared for like few other actions do.

Similarly, Jesus serves as a steady, never-absent presence in our lives. He wants us to see each moment we pass through—the good and the hard—as moments where we glimpse visions of him, are held tightly to him, and feel a greater joy in knowing he is there now, has been, and will be—no matter what the future holds. Like a good friend, his unwavering presence has the power to make us feel seen and heard.

At a wedding or other family gathering, we invite our closest friends and relatives. It’s an honor to be invited. And in our lives, it’s an even greater honor for us to invite Jesus in. He doesn’t push his way in. Like a wedding guest, he waits for an invitation.

Lord, thank you for the gift of your presence. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: What moments of your life stand out as times where you felt the presence of God? How can experiencing his presence bring you greater joy?