This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

There are more times than not when I have become easily disturbed in an attempt to resolve a problem through a phone call to a utility company or appliance help line.  With increased frequency, it seems like I have to call back more than once to get a matter settled. Habitually, there is not a good record of my prior conversations. Sometimes I get placed on hold and must then speak with a person who exhibits a superior attitude, or I end up being transferred to an individual with whom I struggle understanding. Recently in anticipation of a call about a situation that I felt might not be easily resolved – I found myself doing a lot of ‘self-talk’ in preparation for the exchange.  I took on the attitude that I would not have one; an attitude, that is. I simply gave the person on the other end credit for being there to help me.  I decided to be less aloof and more present during the dialog. In doing so, I found that I was more polite and was able to choose my responses more carefully.

Our present culture has made it challenging to effectively engage with others. With the growing dependence on electronic communication and the advent of social media, communication on a personal level often takes a back seat. Then when we do need to talk with another person, we sometimes do not know how to apply respectable social graces. Even a casual “Hello, how are you?” to a passer-by on the street or a simple “thanks for your help” to the clerk at the store who has provided assistance are common rarities. I sometimes hear others express that they don’t know what to say to someone who is sick or has experienced a death in the family.  Sometimes what they need most are not your words but your caring presence. I know from my experience that what I most remember from the tough times in my life are not so much what people said but rather who was ‘there for me’ in those vulnerable periods.

Far more than anyone of us ever will, Jesus understood the importance of the human connection. He said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Yet we His children find ourselves distracted and overwhelmed by the countless diversions life throws at us each and every day. Jesus demonstrated the importance of being present. He scolded His followers on occasion for missing the point. Prior to feeding the five thousand, scripture tells us that Jesus showed compassion on them. “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food. Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat’” (Matthew 14:15-16). And at the home of Mary and Martha, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while her sister was distracted. “But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42). Mary understood what it meant to be truly present.

The Apostle Paul counseled that we must rise above these life distractions and be led by the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things” (Galatians 5:22-23). How can we begin to implement these virtues in our Life’s Journey unless we allow ourselves to be truly in the here and now presence of those who cross our path? We start by finding strength from He who created us. The Psalmist said: “I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me” (Psalm 16:8). Once we finally understand that God is always there waiting to be our Guide, we will come to understand that in His presence – nothing else matters. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do the same for others who need to feel that from us?

REFLECTION: What are some of the distractions that you need to be more aware of in your life, in order that you might be more appropriately present in your daily social interactions? How might you find collective strength in the words of Matthew 18:20 to increase your touching the lives of others?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MARCH 26, 2016.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.