Fully Present

About 2 months ago I was at a Round Table event with Gary Clark in Glasgow organised by my friend Jason Cask Pastor of C7 Church Glasgow (what a great leader and a great church). One thought that Gary Clark made during the day was the need to be “Fully Present”. This statement would have probably have been missed if it hadnt been for one of my all time greats David Shearman saying the same thing to me 2 weeks before!! Freaky – God was trying to say something into my thick head and crowded heart!

What does to be fully present mean?

So often the body is present but the mind is disengaged.

For example – I’m playing basketball with my son at his purpose built basketball court (he’s 6 and he has a mean 3 point range shot!) he asks me a question but I’m on the mobile phone whilst I pass him the ball. What am I saying is the phone call is more important than me playing basketball with my son. I’m there in body but not fully present and my son feels it!

Another example- in our church we love to Raise the Praise. The worship pastor is leading with all her might encouraging people to “enter in”. My eyes are closed, my lips are moving and my hands are raised so to an onlooker I’m worshipping, but my mind and heart are not on God but on the meeting of the day, what I’m going to preach and what I’m having for lunch and God sees it.
- I’m not “Fully Present”

Lastly someone in need asks to speak with me as I’m about to leave my office for the day. They pour out their heart and share their pain and fears but instead of me listening I nod my head whilst thinking about my day, and the person in need knows it.

Let’s be honest we can all associate with the above and probably you can think of other examples.

The lesson I need to learn and the message that God delivered to me through Gary Clark and David Shearman is that I need to live with discipline at all times so I am “Fully Present”.

Here are a few areas that I must intentionally be disciplined in so I am “Fully Present”:

- with God in personal prayer times and corporate worship (to focus and listen).
- with bible study and reading (to think and consider)
- with my wife when she’s talking and needing to share her day or her thoughts, aspirations and hopes.
- with my children when they talk, play and need Daddy time!
- with my parents and wider family when talking about their valuable worlds.
- with people who just want to talk and spend a few minutes with me.
- with my team and co workers when they want to share their joys and fears.
- when reading e-mails.
- when making decisions.
- with the sick, vulnerable and hurting that I hear their words.

Put the X-Box, iPhone, HD TV, i pad and laptop down and give God and people your full attention and see your relationships go to a whole new level.