Dear Abbey Friends,

Showing us is sacred. We all know the story of Thomas…who made one little mistake and became “Doubting Thomas'' for all of Chrisitan History. And while some folks like to make his story about having faith even if it's blind, I’m not sure that’s the biggest take away. All the followers of Jesus have sensed him present in this mystical space after Friday’s Crucifixion and Easter’s Resurrection. Mary saw it first and the guys didn’t believe her, not until they had their own experience. Thomas is asking for what everyone else had; an experience of presence. His problem isn’t doubt. His problem is he missed the meeting.

Showing up is what Jesus does over and over and over. He shares meals and moments on the hillside, he heals and teaches. Even as the Gospels come to a close he continues to show up and you know his presence, even if it is felt more than seen by the quality of peace. He brings peace into spaces of grief, uncertainty and despair.

Showing up is sacred. It’s simple and impossibly hard for us at the same time. That’s why it’s a spiritual practice. Perhaps our calendars, just like our budgets, name our values. It’s easy for us to become over scheduled in some ways and undersheduled in others, if we do not center and reflect on where and how we want to be present.

Presence is a vow of membership in our tradition. It’s hard to grow relationships that matter when we are not present with each other. This discipline means showing up in worship for connection with God and community. It is hard to be in a relationship when we are not present for each other and worship is the primary anchor of this practice. Small groups, learning nights, zoom sessions and potlucks are a second anchor that draws us into connection.

Presence seems simple…right but it's not that easy because it requires us to organize our time with intention toward community. Our main job is paying attention to people around us, noticing and being present, really present. It means we come together, not just for our needs to receive in community but with the possibility that we share. We gather and we all offer warmth, welcome, hospitality and connection. Membership means sometimes we receive and sometimes we give. And in our world, giving even ONE hour let alone maybe three or four a week to be present in our faith community is challenging.

Our western culture loves busyness, honors it really.

Kat Vellos writes “If busyness is the state of having a life choked off by an endlessly full calendar, then its dreamy opposite is spaciousness.” Space to be who you are, space to not have to prove yourself to anyone and space where you are generously present and actually curious about the folks around you. This is a space where you are real and not always posed for an instagram worthy moment. We want to be and make safe place for each other to ask “dumb quesitons” and learning means we all need to grow

Relationships mean mutual dedication, attention, engagement and nurture and in a world where loneliness and division are rampant this actually saves lives. In fact, British Doctors prescribe social “wellbeing interventions such as art classes, gardening clubs and cooking classes'' (Vellos, p24). Our cities and our modern mobility makes relationships challenging which is why showing up is powerful.

Presence means getting a hold of your but’s

Like I would love to but I’m busy,

but I move to much,

but I really want to watch more netflix,

but nobody knows me here,

but I spent four hours on social media,

but I have a side hustle

but I’m flaky,

but they might be flaky….

What are the buts that stop you, that hinder your intentions? Kat Vellos suggests getting in touch with your time and getting Un-Busy. Make a list of how you use your time…where does it go and then a list of what you might like to try that is life giving…what can you trade. Maybe 30 mins less of social media everyday can become your time for communion and community each Sunday. Maybe giving yourself one less hour of netflixs means you can give yourself a little more space for something even more life-giving.

This requires knowing yourself and exploring what you need to be well and whole; to be able to commit to presence as a practice.

So let’s start slow. Some folks join the Abbey on a Sunday and say, “Pastor, I am going to be here every week and what else can I do. Do you need me on a committee or do you have a team” Which is wonderful, but most of the time unrealistic and then disappointing, they feel like they failed. Habits are more likely to become a part of us if we work them into patterns and rituals, weekly schedules. So just start with showing up for worship first. And start with a plan for once a month or twice a month and move from there as you make space.

This isn’t about adding another thing, it's about adding meaning and value, so start slow and with intention, take charge of your calendar. Make a plan for your wellbeing.

When I think about presence as practice, I think of my Grandparents. They spent more time on bleachers and folding chairs than anyone I know. They made plans with old friends and new friends and made family time the center of everything. They planned their fitness to be with people they enjoyed because that was lifegiving. Their habits of presence have always been aspirational for me. Earlier in my career I spent more time with work than I did with people and I have been working toward balance. Practice means we keep at it, we keep trying, we keep learning about ourselves and we keep growing.

What if we imagined a thith of time, say 10% of the work week. How could four hours towards your spiritual life matter? If the first hour is worship, what would the meaning of the others be? Small groups or Grow Night? Prayer built into moments rescued from social media or binge watching? Reading? Service? Everything is folded into presence, even our communion table is defined as real presence. God is present in the juice of the grape and the grain of thee bread and in each and everyone present near and far. It is a ritual of showing up, mystical and nourishing at once.

Consider:

Who has shown up for you? What did that feel like and mean?

Make an inventory of how you spend time.

Highlight what is lifegiving.

Circle what you might be able to reshape.

Who do you want to show up for?

What is your first step?

More journaling:

How can I show up for my whole health and wellbeing?

How can I shape my time with intention?

How can I prepare personally so I can show up ready to be present?

How can I practice paying attention to others in worship, at home, at work, in class…where ever?