Presence

When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence.

How can you love if you are not there?

                                             Thich Nhat Hanh

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I spend my day today

Wandering around my vast rural county

OK, OK

Don’t get excited

I only drive about 80 miles (round trip)

and all I did was talk to people

I wandered into hospital rooms

And into the living rooms of people

Mostly older and frail

Some of them close to prisoners in their homes

Due to infirmity

Or perhaps fear

Nothing profound was said

A few prayers were spoken

We talked about children and grandchildren

About aches and pains

About going home

Or leaving home

We talked about thing of no importance at all

And of things of utmost importance

But really the words were not the thing

It was simply presence

Simply being there

It is always humbling to see someone’s face light up

When you walk in the room

Very chastening when they are surprised,

because it has been so long since you have been there

but even then, it is clear that all is forgiven

as we talk

and sometimes, as we sit in silence

Being present

it is perhaps the greatest gift that can be given

for how can we love if we are not there

I can preach powerful sermons

I can play prophet

I can sing

And plan programs

I can do so much

But sometimes what is important is that I be…..

Present

Let’s be present for each other friends

Let us be there

Be there in silence

Be there with words of comfort

Be there with a helping hand

Be there with nothing at all

But let us be there

With all that we have and are

For that is the greatest gift we can possibly offer