Just Show Up

Just Show Up

It was Saturday night and we were all dressed up for the occasion. A party of epic proportions. It was a Sweet Sixteen with Quince vibes and parents who left nothing to chance. We had received our Save-the-Date with ample time, and I had mentally checked all the boxes. My husband and I arrived at the venue with enough time to take a few selfies outside—my fresh blowout and curls were a rare treat because my school was in May meltdown mode with testing season in full swing.

Then, time stood still as my eyes scanned the empty parking lot.

I remembered every cultural stereotype about the early bird being persona non grata. One glance back at the invitation confirmed my worst fear as my stomach hovered near my throat. I had clearly missed the mark: we were a day early.

After a few deep breaths, we decided to make it a date night, and James convinced me that it really wasn’t the end of the world. The very next night, we showed up with more certainty and clarity, already familiar with the lay of the land. My friends were elated to see us and as they expressed gratitude that we “took time out of our busy schedule,” I could only think, you have no idea how much…

Presence Over Perfection

These are heavy times and people need our presence, not our perfection. When someone is hurting, good intentions are not enough. Thoughts and prayers are not enough.

Flaws and failures don’t disqualify you from the race. You need to show up and be fully present wherever God has placed you in this moment. The circumstances might not be what you had hoped for. In fact, you might be holding fragments of the vision you once carried.

My grandmother loved repurposing broken plates and turning those porcelain discards into beautiful art mosaics! She lovingly mended the cracks and honored the history of each piece as she proudly decked the Miller apartment walls with them.

As I thought back to Grandma Ida’s art hobby, I realized that broken people don’t need a flawless fixer; they need someone willing to sit among the shards. We may not have the right words to comfort every heart, but presence speaks volumes when words fall short.

Sitting Among the Shards

I see trauma and pain at every turn, and I don’t always feel qualified enough to say the right thing. As a teacher, I have visited families after catastrophic accidents and realized that true presence is simply letting people we love know that they are never invisible in their pain. I have shown up for funerals and squeezed a hand before sitting in the back.

Perhaps THAT. IS. ENOUGH.

If Jesus is our pattern, then let’s consider this: Jesus often stepped into suffering rather than offering a quick fix from afar. His first response was to show up, get close, and share the weight of the moment. The daily rush will always demand our attention. Grace asks us to step out of the frantic pace to be the answer someone else is praying for.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

How about clearing space in your calendar to just show up? With love, I challenge you to look around your circle today:

• Who can you check in on?

• Maybe you know someone who can’t even articulate his or her needs.

• They may appreciate just sitting in silence with you and knowing that you care.

More than ever before, the world is on fire, and you have living water. Just. Show. Up.

https://youtu.be/b_RjndG0IX8?si=ppbnrS3elcxL1kuA

Showing Up for Yourself

Or maybe YOU ARE the one who needs this invitation.

Sometimes we just feel depleted and forget to show up for ourselves. Or maybe you have been living in a season of isolation because you don’t feel “good enough” to live in community. Is church hurt keeping you from the very thing you need most?

I can tell you that crossing the threshold is the hardest part of coming back home. You have been invited to a feast, and the only requirement is a good appetite. So, whether you need to show up for someone else or yourself, remember that presence is the quiet catalyst that changes everything!