Presents or Presence?
I made it over the bridge to 2015! In the spirit of the festivities this passed Christmas and New Years' I thought I'd share a little about what I have learned so far. I realized that the human presence is a gift on its own. It is enough. Now, I am not saying I would not like a new sweater, purse, or dusty brown Clark desert boots. However, I do think that being able to share good times with the your fellow humans is a beautiful thing.
My youth group's New Years' bash is a great example. I'll admit that we often got loud and rowdy, especially during family feud *ouch*. Though I did not say much, being around my youth buddies and seeing people I had not seen in a very long time was a good experience (let's not forget the part where I stuffed my face). Take my 18th birthday for instance. A birthday gift is nice, but making fun of Nigeria's Got Talent contestants and watching pointless YouTube videos with people I've basically known all of my life was just as sweet.
Knowing that people care about you is one of the best gifts that anyone can ask for. After all, nobody wants to live life retreating into themselves--morph into a recluse. While there are some parts that should be personal and private, life should also be shared--like a pan of gooey pecan pie. In the good times, we can topple over chairs with one another and laugh so hard that we must hold onto someone lest we fall. In bad times, we can cry on each others shoulders, break down in each others arms. Perhaps the premise of the matter is that we must never take anyone for granted. Once we grow old and go our separate ways, we will wish we could spend hours on the phone or play endless games of mafia.
I bet God's presence is beautiful too. I mean of course, he doles out blessings and answers our prayers, but what about the peace of knowing that God is always with you? That awareness of his presence. He is not just some abstract being in the sky that is 6 billion light years away. He is all around you--he is holding your hand on this path. Even when you are alone, you are never really alone. Even if you feel like the whole world is rolling by and you are getting caught in its seams. He is there, and he actually cares for you.
You little speck of life on the vast sand filling the seashore. He sees you as his own-- for whom he gave himself. Isn't that just as marvelous as his gifts? I mean, word of knowledge, healing, prophecy--all that jazz is cool, but God himself is way cooler. I think it is safe to say that I'll take presence over presents any day.
My youth group's New Years' bash is a great example. I'll admit that we often got loud and rowdy, especially during family feud *ouch*. Though I did not say much, being around my youth buddies and seeing people I had not seen in a very long time was a good experience (let's not forget the part where I stuffed my face). Take my 18th birthday for instance. A birthday gift is nice, but making fun of Nigeria's Got Talent contestants and watching pointless YouTube videos with people I've basically known all of my life was just as sweet.
Knowing that people care about you is one of the best gifts that anyone can ask for. After all, nobody wants to live life retreating into themselves--morph into a recluse. While there are some parts that should be personal and private, life should also be shared--like a pan of gooey pecan pie. In the good times, we can topple over chairs with one another and laugh so hard that we must hold onto someone lest we fall. In bad times, we can cry on each others shoulders, break down in each others arms. Perhaps the premise of the matter is that we must never take anyone for granted. Once we grow old and go our separate ways, we will wish we could spend hours on the phone or play endless games of mafia.
I bet God's presence is beautiful too. I mean of course, he doles out blessings and answers our prayers, but what about the peace of knowing that God is always with you? That awareness of his presence. He is not just some abstract being in the sky that is 6 billion light years away. He is all around you--he is holding your hand on this path. Even when you are alone, you are never really alone. Even if you feel like the whole world is rolling by and you are getting caught in its seams. He is there, and he actually cares for you.
You little speck of life on the vast sand filling the seashore. He sees you as his own-- for whom he gave himself. Isn't that just as marvelous as his gifts? I mean, word of knowledge, healing, prophecy--all that jazz is cool, but God himself is way cooler. I think it is safe to say that I'll take presence over presents any day.
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