Just Show Up

Last night we did something a little different at church. Instead of doing our usual informal Sunday night service, we just shared a meal together, and after that there was some really beautiful worship music.

There were people at the table from all kinds of different walks of life.

After it was all over, me and another church member were talking about how it went. You know, just going over it like people do. Thinking about what could be better, what we could do different, what else we could add, all that kind of stuff.

But one thing really stayed with me.

The person I was talking with is the one who played the worship music, and she did it in a way that was honestly powerful. But what she said hit me. She said the most powerful part of the night for her wasn’t even when she was playing. It was when she was just sitting at the table eating with everybody else.

Man, there is something in that.

I really believe there’s a mystery in the simplicity of it all. Maybe even power in it. The less we do, the more room there is for Him to do what only He can do.

It’s actually kind of funny, because when I talk about what I do on Monday nights at the Fireside Park meals, I usually say “nothing.” And the truth is, I mean it. I pretty much just show up.

And maybe that’s a bigger part of it than we think.

I ain’t fully sure, but I keep getting this strong sense that a lot of what He really asks from us is not nearly as complicated as we make it. Just show up. Sit down with people. Eat together. Be present. And let Him move in the middle of it.