We’re in our last months of having a pre-schooler so the nostalgia is setting in. But we continue to have moments that remind us that the eyes of a pre-schooler always provide a fascinating as well as entertaining perspective on life and even life with God.
Last week I attended a theological forum here in Manila on Peace and Reconciliation and was gone for a couple of days. Even though it was held in the city, it was essentially like an out of town trip. When I got back I took the family out for ice cream to re-connect after being gone and celebrate the end of the week given that it was a Friday.
It was a high energy meeting where kids were talking fast and relaying all their experiences from the previous few days and catching up on things. The older kids that is. After several minutes of chatter and fast talking by our oldest children, our five year old Kaelyn at the first real moment of silence in the conversation burst out with a simple declaration, “I’m here!”
It was an abrupt transition, but she had tons she wanted to connect about and she was feeling overlooked and somewhat overpowered by her siblings. All that she was feeling in that moment just exploded awkwardly through that simple phrase, “I’m here!”
It was such an abrupt statement in the conversation that you can’t help but shift the focus of the conversation and explore what was going on for her. Sure enough, she had been wanting to share some specific things with me that she had been holding onto for a couple days and she wasn’t going to feel close or connected until I knew about the important things in her life.
It was a reminder that being seen, being able to have a voice, being able to have meaningful connection in areas that we want to be known is fundamental to living lives of purpose in community. We all have moments in life, relationships, and work where we want to scream out, “I’m here!” It’s a gift when others respond to our own different expressions of “I’m here!” with a gracious and listening disposition. It also reminds me that it’s just as significant of a gift to others when we validate their “I’m here!” with a response of “Yes, you’re here! And I’m glad you are! Tell me more!”
Lencioni refers to anonymity as one of the signs of a miserable job and all the pyschology literature shows us the many ways relational isolation wrecks havoc on well-being and communities. But it’s in those moments of expressing, seeing, or responding to the “I’m here’s!” is where authentic and connected community is built.
There is a warning that we often find artificial ways to declare “I’m here!” in an effort to earn that validation, yet no achievement can provide the transformational power and depth of freely given acceptance and grace through relationship.
This is the power of the gospel for people in their journeys with God and with one another. Connecting in the “I’m here!” moments are the simple moments that build us up, transform us, and deepen our capacity to serve others.
Look for the “I’m here’s” this week and see how you can give the gift of, “Yes! You’re There! Tell Me More!”
