Presently Engaged

As God has impressed upon my heart the need to rest in the midst of this busy season, I am trying to be better engaged with what’s right in front of me and really be present in the present. Yesterday our church seniors’ class hosted their annual Christmas luncheon. This is a group that faithfully meets for Bible study every Wednesday morning and has lunch together once a month. As a church staff person, I will often be invited to grab some lunch from their impressive buffet line. Usually when I do this, I take my food back to my desk and eat as I continue to work. But yesterday was different, not just because it was a special Christmas luncheon, but because I chose to sit and eat with them. As an introvert, this is not always an easy thing for me to do, but within minutes, I knew the names of everyone at the table.

My heart was so encouraged to listen to life stories of the women who sat on either side of me. I heard of the miraculous healing of Cheryl, the woman on my left, from seizures that resulted from a childhood injury. We made eye contact as she recounted the work of God in her life, and the reminder of His power sent chills up and down my arms. Joanne is the name of the woman who sat to my right, and she spoke of her late husband as though she was still a teenager. They’d been married 50 years when he passed away. And she’s been without him for 18 years now. She gently touched my arm as she held up her left hand, proudly displaying her wedding ring, now loose on her finger, because he’s still her “one and only.” What a great love story! Incredible testimonies to the goodness of God!

These are moments I would have missed had I taken lunch back to my desk yesterday. These are the kinds of moments I don’t take the time to experience nearly enough. Names, faces, stories…all connected by the faithful work of God.             Profound blessings come simply by showing up and engaging in the present.