There
are many different ministries that serve this broken world we call home. And
lately, I've been thinking about one in particular: the ministry of presence.
When
my youngest daughter entered seventh grade, she had a new teacher for religion,
a class that her older sister adored. The original teacher passed away
unexpectedly during the first week of school, hence the arrival of the new
teacher. “How do you like her?” I asked at dinner one night. “Well, I like her
a lot,” said Elizabeth. “But she says the same thing every day at the end of
class: ‘Girls, your presence is gift to me.’ That is so weird!”
“Actually,
that's wonderful,” I replied. “Importance and humor. Not bad for a teacher
right out of seminary.”
That
young teacher is now the head of the religious studies department. She modeled
the principle of presence to her students. Presence is witness, and witness is
powerful: I see you. I hear you. I witness you.
What
happens to us when we are seen? And heard? And what happens to us when we are
not?
Presence
can be a powerful, affirming ministry. There are both aspects of giving and
receiving going on in this dynamic. Seeing and listening are both examples of
the gift of engagement.
Early
in Matthew’s gospel, just as Jesus is embarking on His journey of public
ministry, the writer tells of God’s reaction to the scene by the river Jordan.
The heavens opened, the dove descended, the Voice was heard — “This is my Son,
the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Wow.
What affirmation! He hadn’t done anything yet, but what a powerful way to start
your day!
Last
fall, we began working with the Vocare School here at Richmond Hill. Fifteen
students from many walks of life are seeking out what comes next in their
particular journey. They’ve been equipped with lots of tools for this task, but
perhaps the main one is their small group discussion.
In
those small group circles, souls emerge in answer to questions asked. We
witness one another in ways very different from polite, perfunctory, casual
encounters of the normal day to day.
We
are looking for signs of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit, pointing to the
emerging of the authentic in the life before us.
Look, listen, behold. And be held in the
mysterious wonder of the gift of presence.Richard Rumble
May 2014
