This year has been such a rush. Particularly May and June. The end of the school year is always busy, but for about seven weeks I had a crazy amount of responsibilities, opportunities, and personal developments that all collided at the same time.

Whew. I’m sure you’ve been there a time or two in your own life.

Even once I got past all the deadlines and events and could finally sink into summer vacation, my mind didn’t want to slow down. It was in high planning mode. Plus I had some anxiety over things outside my control that I couldn’t plan or organize. I was attempting to leave them in God’s hands, but I was still frustrated they weren’t coming together the way I thought they should.

I felt on edge, unable to relax, even though I didn’t have the external pressures anymore.

Then I started hearing two words over and over. First from a friend, then from various other sources.

Be present.

Yes, there was the stressful stretch where meticulous time management and major organizational skills were needed. But I wasn’t there anymore. And I was at risk of missing out if I allowed my mind to keep running in such a fast gear. I might miss what God wants to speak to me. I might miss ways He wants to use me in the lives of others.

So I’ve been working on being present. Taking the time for the long conversations, for the check-in text messages, for laying things down in order to be more than do.

There’s a balance to it all. Look at Mary and Martha. There’s nothing wrong with serving Jesus, glorifying Him by using the gifts He’s given us in an active way. Yet He says it plainly In Luke 10: “One thing is needful.” There’s the risk of missing “that good part, which shall not be taken away…” (verse 42)

I want to be present. Will you join me in focusing on that through the remainder of summer? There’s always the next thing to grab our attention. But what or who is right in front of you at this very moment?