The straw broke through the mound of whipping cream and we heard the simultaneous sound of slurping and our grandson’s gushing over how good Pop Pop’s world famous milkshakes are. “That’s my secret recipe,” Kevin boasted. His recipes are locked in his vault and I don’t know if it was his secret ingredient or just the satisfaction of having Pop Pop’s world famous milkshakes, but the simplicity of the moment opened Asher and Lucas’ tongues. Out poured important stories from their school day. It was our weekly after school snack day. Kevin and I leaned in listening intently to what each grandson had to share. At times they were talking over each other and it took great concentration to follow the storylines they were presenting. Kevin and I didn’t care. We were making memories with Asher and Lucas. We hung on every word because these days go by too quickly. We were present and attentive to the adventures of their day.
One day the Lord asked Moses to come up a mountain and pay attention and be present in the moment.
And the Lord said unto Moses, “Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.” Exodus 24:12 KJV
I use the King James Version here because it best describes God’s request of Moses, “and be there.”
It’s called being present in the moment. It is what Kevin and I do on Wednesday afternoon snack day. It’s what God does when we call on Him in prayer and it is what He asks of us.
It is what we all do when we are working on building relationships in our lives. We BE there. We are present. We are leaning in and listening to what others are saying.
Moses remained and lived on that mountain with the Lord for 40 days. God had written very specific instructions and Moses needed to get it right.
Every time I get the chance to keep any of my grandsons I jump all over it, but along with that opportunity, I receive several pages of written instructions from their mommies. I am present and paying attention as my daughter and daughter-in-law explain the schedules because these two know their children and they know the best way to keep order in their household.
God knows His children and He knows the best ways to keep order in His household. That’s why He instructed Moses, “Be there.” In other words, “Don’t be texting while I’m talking. Don’t be looking at the TV, don’t be searching the internet.” Don’t be doing any other distractions we have that lure us away from being present and fueling a relationship with Jesus.
Kathy Lee Gifford is very bold about her faith in Christ. She emphatically states it is a relationship with Jesus that she is building.
The only way to build any relationship is to BE THERE.
This Sunday we begin Passion Week. Over 2000 years ago Our Lord Jesus Christ set out on a journey that led to a lonely hill called Golgotha. This journey brought us life everlasting. This journey brought us abundant life. This journey brought us peace and wholeness.
I invite you to come up the mountain with the Lord and BE THERE. Be present every step as He rides a donkey into Jerusalem amid a jubilant parade. Climb the steps as He makes His way into the Temple and throws out the moneychangers. Smell the aroma of the olives as Jesus crushes them beneath His knees as He cries out to God, “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will, but your be done.” Hide in the trees if you must but whatever you do don’t miss the His power when He gets arrested. Cry as you observe the whip slash His back to threads. Look up at the cross and see the drops of blood from His brow trickle down His bruised face. And then dance the victor’s dance as you search the empty tomb. Because your Savior is not dead. He is alive!