Presence

"Be still and know that I am God."

– Psalm 46:10

Amy and I are in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, enjoying some cooler, less humid weather and the amazing beauty of this part of our country. As I write this reflection, I am staring out the window of our cabin at the Teton mountain range as it rises out of the valley floor in a way that reminds me of God’s awesomeness. God has a way of using places like this to put things in perspective in a way the pace of normal life rarely allows, and slowing down long enough to be present. Present before the Lord, present with my wife Amy, present with friends and the people we love. This kind of unhurried presence does not come so naturally for me. But I am convinced it is one of the most important disciplines a leader can develop and one of the greatest gifts we can give to God and the people around us.

Early morning solo hikes as the sun rises over the mountains, long walks/hikes with Amy, casual bike rides through mountain trails with friends, the sound of a mountain stream as I wade the river chasing trout, and a beautiful sunset after an amazing dinner; for me, these are all part of my process of slowing down and connecting with the Lord, Amy, and myself. It is part of my journey of abiding and hearing from the Lord, and how I hear from God in the still small moments that can get drowned out in the hustle and routine of day-to-day life.

Three Principles of Godly Presence

Be Present to God First: Everything flows from this. The most important practice of presence in my life is my daily abiding time with the Lord, the first fruits of my morning given to Him before the demands of the day crowd in. Over 25 years of walking with Jesus, I have learned that the quality of my presence with everyone and everything else is directly connected to the quality of my presence and connection to the Lord. Jesus modeled this consistently. Despite the relentless demands on His time and energy, He regularly withdrew to be alone with the Father. Luke 5:16 tells us He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Not occasionally, but often and continuously. When we are truly present with God in our abiding time, we carry something different into the rest of our day, a settledness, a peace, and a spiritual attentiveness that allows us to see what God is doing and respond with wisdom rather than reaction."Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where He prayed."Mark 1:35

Be Present to the People Who Matter Most: One of the most convicting truths I have encountered as a leader, husband, and father is this: the people closest to us often get the least of us. At times we give our best energy and most engaged presence to others. And then we come home to the people we love most running on whatever is left over. Amy has given me honest feedback on this more times than I care to admit. And most of the time she is spot on. Presence is one of the primary love languages of the people closest to us. Not the grand gesture, just us, fully there, fully engaged, with plenty of time and nothing else in the way. That is what I am pursuing intentionally here in Jackson Hole. Long walks/hikes with Amy, sitting together at the edge of the river, and meals without phones. Rich conversations because there is actually time and space for them. Jesus was never in a hurry, and He was always fully present to the person in front of Him. That is the model, and it is one of the most powerful ways we reflect the love of Christ to the people in our lives."Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others."Philippians 2:4

Be Present to the Season God Has You In: As leaders, we are typically wired to be future-focused, always thinking about the next quarter, the next initiative, the next goal. Vision and forward thinking are genuine gifts, but they can rob us of the richness of the present moment if we are not careful. I have missed more than a few sunsets because I was mentally already somewhere else. Every season has its own gift and its own invitation from God. Our grandkids are only young once. The Tetons are right outside my window right now. Today is the only day that is guaranteed, and today is a gift from God. He deserves our full attention and gratitude for day we are given. Paul learned this secret and wrote about it from a prison cell; he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Contentment and presence are close cousins. Both require us to stop striving long enough to receive what God has actually given us right now."I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."Philippians 4:11

Presence is perhaps the most countercultural discipline available to a leader today. Choosing to be fully present, to God, to the people we love, and to the moment we are in, is a radical and holy act. It costs nothing and means everything. And for those of us who follow Jesus, it is simply an extension of what it means to abide, to remain, to stay, to be fully connected to the vine rather than rushing past it on the way to the next thing. Jackson Hole is helping me remember that. And I suspect God is not finished with me on this one.

Challenge Question: Where are you most prone to distraction and absence right now in your time with God, with the people you love, or in the present season of life God has you in? What is one intentional step you can take this week to show up more fully present in that area?

Prayer: Father, forgive us for the times we have been physically present but mentally and spiritually somewhere else. Teach us to be still. Help us to give the gift of full presence to You first and then to the people You have placed in our lives. May we be leaders and spouses and parents and friends who are truly and fully present, living in the here and now, present to You, present to others, and present to the beautiful and fleeting moments of this one life You have given us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

In a world full of distractions, the most countercultural thing you can do is simply be fully present. Give that gift to God and to the people around you this week. Have a wonderful and present week!