Showing Up

January 10, 2026 - Thoughts on “Showing Up” 

Share highs, lows and God moments

John 11, the story of Jesus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus 

Have you ever just not showed up for anything? I’m sure we all have many times. Most of the time it probably doesn’t mean anything. Like being invited to a big Christmas Party and deciding at the last moment you just don’t want to go. It’s possible you’ll not even be missed. But if it were to a small, intimate party of friends and you didn’t show up, if you weren’t missed there surely would be questions about why you weren’t there. 

Why didn’t Jesus go visit his dear friend Lazarus quickly? We get this very puzzling saying from the text, “This illness does not lead to death…” and he stays two more days where he was. Then he tells the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” It confuses them. 

Once with Mary and Martha, they tell him that if he would have been there sooner, Lazarus would not have died. The story includes what is the shortest passage in the King James Version of the Bible, “Jesus wept”. 

Showing up is important. A Google search gave me this AI summary that I can’t improve upon: 

Why Showing Up Matters 

• Builds Momentum: Consistent effort, even small, creates neural pathways and carries you through challenges, making progress inevitable. 
• Strengthens Relationships: It signals reliability, trustworthiness and commitment, fostering deeper personal and professional bonds. 
• Fosters Personal Growth: It takes courage to show up authentically, helping you become braver and more present in your own life. 
• Leadership & Authenticity: It's a core practice for leaders and individuals, signaling you're "in the arena" and ready to engage. 
• Overcomes Resistance: Simply overcoming the initial hurdle of showing up (physically or mentally) is a huge victory. 

How to Show Up 

• Be Present: Bring your full attention, not just your body. 
• With Intention: Show up with curiosity, heart, humility, or passion, as suggested by NetSuite. 
• For Yourself: This includes self-care, tuning in, journaling, or meditating, say bewellbetter.com. 
• In Difficult Times: Especially important when exhausted, scared, or facing adversity, as it combats quitting. 

Nuances 

• More Than Just Being There: Some believe showing up isn't enough; you must show up with quality presence and a willingness to connect, not just be physically present. 
• It's an Action: It's a conscious choice to engage, rather than hide or quit, creating ripples of change 

Reading this, I sure see all the good things in Jesus “showing up” for Mary and Martha, especially the “more than just being there”. 

I can honestly say that I cannot recall a single time in my life “not showing up for church”. Now I’ve missed many Sundays, but never from the decision that, “Oh, I don’t want to go to church today”. While camping a few weeks ago we visited Grace Lutheran Church in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We’ve been there at least once for our visits, and last year even had lunch with a former SOV member after church! 

This year, Annette just didn’t want to go back to Grace the second Sunday. But we did go to the devotion at the Campground. That’s another story. 

What this means is that we have a pattern of “showing up” for church. The very first point about building momentum is a way that I’d never quite thought about just “showing up”, but it makes sense. The momentum for us is that we “just do it” (to borrow another phrase). 

I can’t think of any time that I didn’t feel better for “just showing up”. 

Prayer

God of love, your children often ask you to be with them. We know you always are. Help us to be with you as well. Help us “show up” when your arms need our hands to do your will. 

AMEN