bring presence

Settle in, remove the distractions, pause, just breathe and read this slowly…

…it’s almost here. The day that literally reset the course of human history is now quickly upon us. The moment when “Emmanuel” became more than prophecy and “God with Us” came into a small corner of the world in the presence of shepherds to breathe for the very first time.

I’m curious. At that moment, what was the world really expecting?

Today, in this moment, what is the world really expecting? Something that looks like this?

Obviously not…

I believe that so often we have this picture in our minds of a manger scene that was full of peace and silence where all the animal looked in (and didn’t smell), and for our convenience the manger had a couple of little side rooms for reflection and prayer.

Just for a moment consider what the world outside of this Norman Rockwellesque scene may have been like.

The streets must have been full (there was no room at the inn). Certainly people were preparing meals, transactions were being made, to-do lists needed to be checked off & people had places to be. Did anyone in that little town really even know or care about what was happening among them? I very much doubt that all was quiet and peaceful both within or just beyond the paneled walls of that barn.

However, for some reason, on that day and at that time God spoke softly in the fields during the still moments to those that were listening to the promise that He was coming.

…because, this is a God who speaks softly to all who listen to His promise of “God with Us.

The reward of “God with us” was given to those who were listening. It was given to those that could pause long enough to lift their eyes to the sky and search for the star pointing to a King. God was with them; this Messiah became present with them. He brought no armies, sat on no throne and didn’t use facebook to announce that He had arrived. He was present with us, and we only know this because of a small gathering of people who were listening.

…they were present, and this God brought His presence to give to them.

Time and time again, as this story of rescue and redemption unfolds, we find Jesus and his disciples reenacting this scene of being present & giving presence.

But, do we even know what it looks like in our world today?

…to be present.

…to be the “with Us” part of Emmanuel?

Our world places little value in being presence because we do not understand it. We must trick ourselves into thinking we are present by thinking it’s a stare, a momentary pause to pay attention or not checking my phone for five minutes. Certainly this Messiah King did not come so that I could learn how to put my phone down for a day.

…His presence and my presence must certainly be about something greater.

We have just a few days remaining in this season of waiting, preparation and arrival, so what will we do with these next few moments before they are gone forever? What will we give that moth and rust will not destroy? What will we give that will not be forgotten?

…the gifts and measures of this world that mark our days and years are simply insufficient.

In one short story found in the third chapter of the book of Acts, Peter & John encounter a man begging for money. Peter says to the beggar “silver & gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you freely.”

In that moment, at the temple gate called Beautiful, they gave him Christ, and Christ, by His very name, is presence.

…Peter & John gave him everything.

Once I heard Rick McKinley ask this question…“What would our family, church and community look like if we said ’silver & gold I do not have?’

As we celebrate Advent, I can chose to follow this story and give the greatest possession that I have ever been entrusted with to those that I love the most. It is really the only thing that I came into this world with, and it is the only thing that once lost can never be regained.

…Presence is something that God gave to me, and He entrusted that I would give it away to others.

In our crazy, busy, excessively connected & to-do list filled world, may we be a people that seek out a place to lift our eyes and search for a God who is speaking softly that He is coming. And, like the Magi, once we find that star, may we travel over the difficult & treacherous roads that allow us to be fully present.

Today, there is still so much to learn from these shepherds…

…they were present and waiting for their King.

Tagged as: Advent, Emmanuel, God With Us, Gold, Presence, Presents, Shepherds, Silver