Where Joy Begins: In Being Present
My daughter sent me King Charles III’ speech. It was eloquent. Up to the point. Among other things, King Charles spoke about the war in Ukraine, naming it not as distant politics but as human suffering, and calling for courage, compassion, and steadfast support for those who endure it.
And what truly appealed to me is how King Charles presents himself to the crowd in times of shootings and fear. In a time when public life often feels distant or staged, there was something unexpectedly human: a monarch pausing for conversation, meeting people where they were, listening as much as speaking. No spotlight. No grand statements. The meaning was carried in the small gestures—a handshake held a moment longer, a shared smile, an unhurried exchange.
We live in a world that moves quickly from headline to headline. It is easy to assume that influence comes only through power and loud statements. But moments like this suggest something different. There is a deeper message in simply showing up. There is still meaning in attention to ordinary people, in noticing, in taking time to be present with another person. It is a quiet reminder that leadership, at its best, is not only about direction. It is about connection.
Across our own communities, we see the same truth. Our church members show God’s love in everyday encounters—in conversations over coffee, in gatherings where people come to listen and to care, in packing backpacks, serving food, choir rehearsing, exercising, discussing difficult topics, and praying together. This is quiet witness and the steady presence of those who make space for others. It might not be visible, but it is relational.
Perhaps what stayed with people after King Charles’ visit was not the event itself, but the feeling it left behind: that even in a complex and uncertain world, human connection still matters.
We are not kings, but have you noticed how a quiet handshake, a shared smile, and an unhurried exchange on Sunday morning set up the rest of the week?
And sometimes, it begins with something as simple as being present.
Pastor Lydia
