PRESENCE – a lost form for most. Barely sought but rarely found.
Prop hits us up again with another banger. Which is really an understatement considering I just downloaded the new "Excellent" album from HumbleBeast and I'm dumbfounded at how blessed this brother is in translating scripture into spoken word and lyrical text.
There is really too much to say about this album. However, I want focus on one track in particular that in every aspect has stoned me – Be Present (live from Catalyst Atlanta). This track speaks particularly about being PRESENT in the moment and LISTENING from the aspect of relationship regarding husbands and wives. Granted, I have been especially slain in this area for some time now as I find myself continually asking God for "eyes to see and ears to hear" because I see that there is a tendency to want to have an answer or solution to "fix" a perceived problem or issue.
Overall, "the fix" is not always what we think it to be. There is a process here that can be overlooked while attempting to resolve a situation. As a side-note, one of my art teachers used to always say "don't neglect the process". From a "creative process" perspective I understood this completely however, now only to begin to understand it from a relational point of view. Meaning, sometimes (not always) we/they/you/me have to go through the process of learning how to be... say, present, be still, listen, not respond, listen and not accepting or rejecting but processing that which is said in order to glean full understanding and begin to gain knowledge from it. This with the hopes that we would persevere to be made mature in all things not lacking anything (James 1:4)(1).
At least as a man I now know that this is and can be a challenge. Not because we don't want to do it but in our heads we are goal/task oriented. In other words, see a problem... fix the problem... move forward. While this works in business this is not always applicable in relationships. Even within our relationship with God, there are times where we are required to walk not run. Be steadfast and persevere rather than jump to the conclusion (similar to watching a good movie – you miss everything if you watch just the first 10 minutes and skip to the end). Likewise, this was confirmed last night for me while in conversation with a friend. He said something very poignant, that "we are wired like this to want to solve a problem or have the answer, yes but, we need to seek". I paused and smiled. The meaning behind this is really to focus on seeking truth and true meaning with the things that we face in and out of season. And yes, there is a process to here. Mark 8: 22-25 begins to quantify this for me.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
In this passage Christ heals the blind man from the loss of sight, we also see that the first application didn't fully grasp and after confirmation that the man's vision was still "blurry", Jesus puts his hands on him once more to heal him (a direct touch). Then his eyes were opened! Yet he sees at first indistinctly. It is only by repeated applications to the Source of light that he sees all things clearly (2). By this I see that this "process" is not native to anyone and whether from a perspective of self as the sinner to savior or as husband and wife the process remains the same - constant exposure to the Source of light enables us to discern and corrects our vision to see things clearly. That source is Christ.
I am in process, I fail, I fall, I stumble, I also succeed, rise and steady myself through the witness of many from the source of the Gospel. God is gracious that way and I am thankful. Thankful that my sight is being lifted up and restored and I am beginning to see everything well and clearly (3).
That said, Propaganda's track Be Present speaks to this genuinely and sharply. His example of the conversation between his wife and himself rings strangely familiar (don't be fooled, we've all done it in one form or another). I've been so caught up in trying to plan this or that, where the finish line is and how to get there, that at some points I've neglected some of the day to day of being present. Working crazy hours and trying to position myself for success in and of itself is not bad. However, when put in the proper perspective, God gives promotion, period. Work hard yes, lose focus on what's going on in front of you no. Our families are going on daily and to put it bluntly, your presence does not define that you are present.
So today let's make up our minds to endure and continue to be present in every way possible. Listening for those opportunities to act in stillness. That my friend will truly be a most excellent sight.
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Reference:
- James 1:4 - Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- Barnes Notes on the Bible
- Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
