Be Present

As Father’s Day is here we at Crossroads are in the midst of our VBS Camp at the Assembly. It’s always tiring, aggravating and GREAT all at the same time. Kids in my estimation always enjoy adults being with them, doing with them just being present. I guess what that means is to enjoy them. Maybe that’s what being present really means enjoying “the one you’re with.” Yes that is a reference to an old CSN title.

I’ve done this I am sorry to say and I would venture to guess so have you, where you are “present” but not “there.” There is so little about that location and activity that interests you that could care less to be there. So, you are there but not there. Maybe you are on your phone or in a book or staring out the window whatever you are not there. In another way of looking at it you don’t enjoy the people you are with. Sometimes that is true of our families.

There are times when we don’t enjoy being around our immediate families much less our extended families. They can be like the general public, stinky, smelly just unbearable to be around. It’s those times that we need to be reminded of our obligation as people of faith as found in Ephesians.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives[family], exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives[families]. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. Ephesians 5:25-28 The Message [brackets mine]

Particularly on Father’s Day the role of the Father in any home has never been more important. But guys that means we have to be there physically and emotionally. I know…I know that seems like we are doing nothing. We are supposed to be doing something for them etc. the truth is the most we can do for them is to be present with them. Honestly, our families want us to be there engaged, enjoying them. That means we/I have got to change our/my thinking.

We must decide our family is our priority. They are more important than our job, hobbies, friends, desires well everything except God. If we make them that important then we need to be there. That means we need to un-plug from the TV for a period. Turn off the cell phone for a while. Check those e-mails tomorrow. Cut the grass another day (it will still be there). Work on that thing later. Turn our attention to our wives and children now so that later they will turn their attention to you. You see in the end family is all that we have when a job ends, health fails, mind falters and our doings become being. It makes life much more enjoyable. You want to be present so do they!                    

Bro G