top of page
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

The Present that is Presence

Writer's picture: Erica KoserErica Koser

The Word became flesh and made his home among us. John 1:14


I love to give gifts. I love to search out that perfect present that will bring joy and delight, that has meaning and will be cherished. As you can imagine, Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year for that very reason. But, this year was different. For a wide variety of reasons, gift giving lost its shine. The budget was smaller, the "wants" of my grown up kids were more utilitarian than exciting and in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I was in a bit of a funk. 2024 was not a banner year for us- so much change and upheaval and rolling into the holiday season felt more like the end of a marathon with a finish line that led to the deep uncertainty of what 2025 might yield at it's beginning. Giving gifts began to feel more like a chore than blessing.


I am at that stage of life where my kids now have their people. I love their people and I love the big boisterous chaos that comes when we are all together. That said, the sheer navigation of who was coming when with who, what meals they would be here for, if they were staying overnight etc, etc required spreadsheets and calendars. We struggled just to figure out when we could actually have our own exchange of gifts. Gift giving was now an obligation that we would squeeze in when we could. Oof- I needed a serious attitude adjustment.


I sat myself down and gave myself a little lecture before we kicked off the holiday chaos. "Self? It's going to be different, its going to be crazy, you can choose to fret or you can be present and soak it all in. Up to you. Choose wisely." And so, I just decided to let go. To be present in the moment and not worry about the who, what, where or when. (Those of you that know me in real life, know this is BIG.) I tucked the lists and the spreadsheets away and just lived in the moment. And you know what? It was wonderful. The biggest gift of all was just being present with the people I love the most. Holding a sleeping grandchild, watching love unfold for my oldest, hearing the dreams and goals of the soon to be college graduate, watching the new mom and dad delight in their daughter's first Christmas, and seeing the 17 year old bond with the 'sisters' that now come with her brothers. Gifts that were freely given and worth more than money could buy.


The Word became flesh and made his home among us. Reflecting back on this Christmas season, the incarnational love of God has a new dimension. It is tactile and squishy. It is present in the chaos. It shows up in big and small moments and big and small ways. It is unexpected AND predictable. It's obvious and obscure. It is the exact embrace we need at the beginning of a new year.


As I write, California is burning. Lives are shattered. We are perched on the edge of a political transition that has many fearing for their very lives. Illness is running rampant with full hospitals and urgent cares. The weather is completely out of whack. A wind of uncertainty and chaos seems to be swirling. Amidst all of this, I am clinging to my lessons from Christmas. Presence is a present. I was watching the news last night and what struck me the most was the ways people were showing up for each other. Donation drives, financial assistance, rescuing pets and charred mementos. Showing up, being present, holding physical space together, sharing hugs, seeing the humanity in each person.


This year promises to be rocky. Will you join me in a little self lecture? Can we right now make a promise to live into the incarnational love of Jesus? Can we promise to show up for each other? To maybe not worry so much about the wheres, whats, and hows- but to care deeply for the who. To be the flesh and blood extension of Christ's love in a world that is in deeply need? This was my gift from Christmas of 2024 and I pray that it might be a gift to you as you step into the journey that is 2025.


A blessing


The word became flesh and made his home among us

Skin, bone, beating heart.

Nestled in a mother's arms

Strengthened by a fathers love

Tears, laughter, prayer, song.

Promise of hope

Life anew


You of skin and bone and beating heart

of tears and laughter, prayer and song

longing for hope, of welcome, of embrace



Be the gift to one another

holding tears, laughter, prayers, and songs

Be hope, be love, be new life

Make space for his home among us.


128 views

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Subscribe to get new blog posts delivered to your inbox!

Thanks for subscribing!

© 2022 by Erica Koser.  Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page