pres·ence
[prez-uhns] noun
2. attendance or company: Your presence is requested.
3. immediate vicinity; proximity: in the presence of witnesses.
Exodus 33 (NIV) 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence(Y) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”(Z)15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence(AA) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?(AB) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”(AC)17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked,(AD) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
1 Kings 10 (NKJV)
24 Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God has put in his heart
Question for you: Have you ever tried having a long distance relationship (before Skype and cheap international or interstate phone call rates or VOIP)?
When you are away from the family or friends for either weeks/months or even a few days, what effect does that have your relationship?
Could you carry on a marriage, where you live separately? A "presenceless" marriage? Is that a relationship?
Business folks: What is your preferred mode of communication? Phone, email, or in person?
Could this Ironmen group work and function if you did not turn up each fortnight?
Why is it, that after speaking with someone either through the internet or phone, that there is a desire to actually meet them physically, experience their presence?
What's with the saying: "We are honored by your presence"...?
Why is it that with people we admire, look up to, are fans of, (lest I say idolize) will go to extordinary lengths to meet them, it not to meet them, be in the same room/street/building as them?
It reminds me of my school-friends who, after a U2 concert in Sydney, spent hours hanging outside their change room just to see them exit after the show had finished.
Or the crowds that amassed at the Opera House when Oprah came to Australia. It seems we have bought the lie of worshipping self, in the form of a celebrity.
Think about it for a minute, one of the attributes, God put in us was gregariousness, that is to have a social capacity, a need for companionship ("it is not good for man to be alone").
God made mankind in His image. Which tells me that God is somewhat like us. Don't stone me, but think about it, if we are like God, then God is like us. NOTE, I am not suggesting in the slightest that we are equal or have the same capacity of God.
God made man for a relationship. Adam, walked in the Presence of God.
It's not like God goes "Ahh, there we go, Adam's made, best be off, leave it with you Adam, I might come back later this year, millennium, or not at all, see ya!"
What is an essential part of that relationship? To be present.
Why's this applicable to men? Why am I making a point about this at Ironmen?
What is one of the things that we men do well? In fact we excel at it?
Cave time....
Cave time can be a good thing from time to time. I'm not totally opposed to it.
But separation leads to breakdown. We hide in that cave and separate ourselves. We abdicate our presence from the other.
Without the presence of the other person/people (wife, kids, workers, associates, clients, friends, influencers ) then what is left?
Take it another step further, what has religion done so well? Killed the Presence of God, with religious practices and rituals.
My call to action here is to remind ourselves of the highest importance of seeking and putting time and effort in having His Presence in our lives. A touch and presence with Him makes all the difference.
But also reminding ourselves that to be Present, to take your presence to others that either need it, or will benefit from it.
As John Eldrige put it so eloquently "Let the person feel the weightiness of your presence"
Show me marriage that has 2 people doing their own things and largely separated, and in time, they will be divorced.
Show me a young man, that reflects on his childhood with a father that was always travelling and I will show you a dysfunctional relationship.
Show me a Christian who doesn't value the Presence of God, and I will show you a religious frozen chosen judge-mental person.
No comments:
Post a Comment