Withness

I’m teaching a class about pastoral care right now. Here’s part of what I wrote to a student the other day. It’s a helpful thought for the Friday before Advent.

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You are inviting me to think about presence. Part of why presence is so significant in my thinking and in our lives may be shown in the fact that in order to help, Jesus put on a body and lived with humans. His work wasn’t an outside intervention. He walked with, lived with, talked with, wept with, ate with, debated with, invited, touched, people. And more.

If his work was just about being a sacrifice, that could have happened without all the with.

But the fundamental, I think, point, is that God desires withness.

It’s what happened in Eden. Withness.

It’s what will happen. Withness.

It’s what Jesus did for all but part of three days. Withness.

It’s what Jesus promises in Matthew 28. Withness.

So apparently, withness matters. And sometimes, he invites us to be part of that simple withness when people need a breathing person next to them.

Withness. Presence.

[deep breath]

here endeth the sermon. But thanks for making me think.

Jon

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