I’ve been picking up on a theme. Just over a week ago, I read an article related to a specific business, and it referred to the power of presence that professionals in that industry offer their clients. Near the same time, I listened to a podcast in which the idea of being available in the present for one another was discussed. Finally last weekend, in a post-game interview, a professional athlete shared that he was motivated to do well in the game because he wanted to show up and be there for his teammates. I was struck by these phrases and what they implied about caring for others and found myself thinking of them in terms of faith. Not just having faith but also sharing faith, living faith, and growing in faith through being ‘present.’
Collectively, the phrases reminded me of another term I heard a while ago, ‘Ministry of Presence.’ Presence is such a significant aspect of our faith. We seek God’s presence in our lives; He invites us to be present with Him; and we are called to be a presence of faith to one another. Though my mind knows and trusts that God is indeed present, my heart and spirit don’t always notice as they should. I pray for greater awareness of His presence, so I don’t miss the gifts of love and mercy He has for me. During evening prayer, I do my best to recognize where and how I encountered the grace of God’s loving presence, and every day I am comforted and humbled by the many ways He was clearly with me. So often, it is through someone(s) who ministered to me in faith. And though it is usually through a small word or deed, the impact and presence of love and grace are not small.
We’ve reflected before on being companions in faith, and this idea of being a presence in faith – being ministers of God’s presence – is another aspect of that. As people of faith, offering the strength, comfort, and companionship of presence is our ministry. So that together we share, live, and grow in faith, let us pray for the grace of awareness to recognize both God’s loving presence in our lives and how, through our unique gifts of love, we can live the ministry of presence for others.
Journeying to Grace 