God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5.
HERE.
It’s a powerful word. It speaks of our geographic location, of our place in time. It is our attention to our surroundings, our awareness of the moment, our focus on the things that are easy to miss.
HERE is about presence.
Recently, I was blessed to spend an entire week with nearly 100 students and adult leaders, who “gave-up” their Spring Break to love and serve people throughout the Charlotte area, in a ministry called SPRING BREAKTHROUGH.
This year, (our third), we focused on presence; the presence of God with us, and us being present to God, making ourselves available, seeking His direction and will.
As I said last week, God is the star of SB, and this year, as every year, God did what only God can do; He changed things.
The streets of Uptown changed as the students began their week by walking through them, praying for and with strangers and handing out carebags.
A neighborhood changed as we hosted a huge block party in an at-risk area north of the city; serving food, painting faces and singing songs.
15 area ministries changed as teams of young people came for four days to build, clean, support, and to touch and encourage both the servants and those they serve.
Countless strangers changed as they encountered these teenagers, serving, praying, caring for and seeing them.
But most of all, the teenagers and adults who showed-up were changed; seeing the power of presence in action, seeing what it is like to be bold and fearless and selfless, experiencing what it feels like to be used by God in ways they never thought possible.
They changed as they emptied themselves physically, working for 5 days straight, as they persevered emotionally through adversity.
They changed spiritually, as they reflected, prayed and waited on God to guide and direct them.
They changed as they talked and laughed and ate and played at camp and on the road.
The teenagers who gave their time in this way are not better than other teenagers. They are not morally superior or somehow magically free of flaws.
They were and are, however different; in that they made themselves available to God.
They simply did what most teenagers (or adults for that matter), would never do, especially with their vacation time: They literally lived out the words of the prophet Isaiah, and said, “HERE I am LORD, Send me.”
May you take some time, to be available to God, to be completely present and aware of His presence.
May you set down your plans and agendas; the worries ahead of you and the junk behind you, and simply seek His presence now.
For just a little while, may you be HERE.
