Presence Over Perfection: The Quiet Impact of Simply Showing Up

There are days when the last thing you want to do… is show up.

To church.

To that classroom.

To your writing desk.

To that conversation with someone you love.

But presence preaches.

When I was in elementary school, at the small church we attended, I watched one man. He had three daughters, but his wife refused to attend church. But each week, this man had his girls beside him at church. Every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, he showed up.

His small, almost unnoticeable actions spoke volumes.

Luke takes us to the dusty Turkish town of Lystra. Paul preached but stirred up opposition. Someone grabbed his robe and started dragging him. The hard rocks pommelled his ankles until they bled. They threw him in the dust and pelted him with stones.

And then they left him to die. But he didn’t…and neither did his spirit.

He got up and walked back into town. It preached louder than his words.

The sheep in Matthew 25 never knew they were doing anything eternal when they helped others. They never recognized Jesus in the faces of the poor and hungry. But Jesus recognized them. They showed up when no one else did.

And maybe… that’s the whole point.

Not because it’s big, but because it’s faithful.

I’m writing this today not because I know someone will read it, but because I need to write.

I need to show up.

What about you?