4 minute read
Pursue Presence
Pursue presence
Thanks to multiple technologies and social media channels, we can now be more connected with one another than ever, at least virtually. Especially during months and months of pandemic restrictions, most of us came to appreciate the way videoconferencing can make those connections more visual and lifelike. When you can’t “be” with someone, the power to at least “see” them in real time is welcome indeed. No wonder Zoom has now joined classic brands like Kleenex and Coke in our vocabulary of household words.
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Even so, most of us will admit that virtual, even visual, connection still falls far short of physically being together. Electronic waves aren’t the same as a warm handshake, and virtual hugs just don’t cut it. And the closer the relationship or the more important the topic, the more vital face-toface communication becomes.
The Christmas Advent season is an especially good time to embrace the intrinsic value of physical presence. Though God had long revealed himself to mankind through creation and in temporary manifestations, when the “fulness of time” came he showed up in person. He became flesh and dwelt among us. He smiled and touched and talked and wept. He showed us up close who God is and how we can know him. He was Immanuel—God with us.
As Christmas approaches, let’s show up for one another. Health permitting, let’s not settle for virtual connection alone. Let’s be present. Let’s travel again and gather again. Let’s smile and touch and talk and weep. And let’s do it like Jesus did in the fulness of time. Let’s do it in person.
I think I will always remember the people who came in person to our wedding, and who came in person to the hospital when our children were born. I think I will always remember who came to my dad’s funeral. In the right moment, in the fulness of time if you will, physical presence can be powerful. And that’s especially true when being present requires sacrifice. For Jesus and us, two such moments were the incarnation, and the cross. His loving and sacrificial choice to be present with us and for us in those moments mean everything.
A few years ago, one of our sons was far from the Lord and questioning his faith, even after attending a Christian college. Though we had many open conversations, he remained spiritually miserable. All his mom and I knew to do was to remain present, and to pray.
It was just before Christmas that year when our son reluctantly agreed to go with us to church. It was a nice but unremarkable church service from my memory. Yet our son came home from that service visibly troubled and spent most of the next couple of days in isolation.
When he emerged, he asked to speak with our entire family. He began by apologizing to us for the concern and pain he had caused us during his prodigal days. He said that during that pre-Christmas worship service he had felt compelled to immerse himself in God’s word. As he did so, he surrendered his life afresh to the Lord. He thanked us for not giving up on him, and for continuing to pursue him with our presence.
Pursuit through presence. That’s exactly what Jesus did for us in the incarnation. Omnipresent God revealed himself afresh, only now as God with us. Then after the resurrection, he gave us his continual presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit. And he still promises to be present in a special way each time we gather for worship as his body. He pursues us through his presence.
I’ve sometimes wondered what might have been different if our son hadn’t been physically present at church that Christmas. In his providence, I’m confident God would have pursued him another way. But I’ll always be grateful for the miracle God chose to perform that Sunday.
Yes, we are more connected with one another than ever before. But let’s not grow less present. During this season, let’s not miss the blessing of Immanuel’s presence, and the presence of others who know and love him.
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Respond at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.
