At this moment, I am sitting in a farm shop cafe with the background noise of the mummies, the wealthy, the working, the workers and the retired play fighting over who should pay the bill. I have come here to write this blog on presence and the spacious place. As I reflect on what being present means, there are many things to notice.

1. My past has swirled today, dragging my tired unslept body out of bed in search of coffee, battling with my mind. Then resting again in the spaciousness of Jesus' Lordship and friendship that brings unexplainable peace. The future ticks relentlessly into the present and becomes the past, uncaring about how I feel or even if this road is one I want to travel.

2. There is a tipping point in life, different for each of us, where the collected pain and struggles crush youthful optimism. Then embracing each day with joy, and receiving it as a gift becomes a choice. Despite it all, I am still an optimist, but it is (I think) by choice rather than disposition.

3. Life does not sit quietly in a chair, allowing us the luxury of reflecting, and embracing whatever may come. We can never be fully present in that moment because the next moment always forces itself upon us. However, we can embrace life's journey and adventure as we walk it out, one step at a time.

If being present is pausing life to reflect on this moment, it will be almost impossible to achieve. We will discipline ourselves to be unable to handle change without retreating. However, if being present is embracing each moment and stepping into the next, we train ourselves to be people of peace where ever life takes us.

Spacious Place

Over the last few years, we have experienced the Holy Spirit lead us into a spacious place. It is expansive, free and full of possibilities. In order to understand the place we are in, it's helpful to explain where we have come from.

We served Jesus and his Kingdom for many years in an institutional container. The structures should have been a garden trellis, providing a frame and direction while encouraging growth and fruitfulness. The church is full of good people who build structures that are supposed to facilitate growth. Over time the structures become self-serving, and the institution takes precedent over the kingdom. It is impossible for any church, however new or old, to be completely free of these human systems. The challenge is to continually review and keep them fit for purpose so the structures and systems serve the King and his kingdom.

Rather than supported and released, we found ourselves repeatedly crushed and contained. The structure in which we served felt feudal, overbearing and controlling. Some personal circumstances meant that our personal lives were also more pressured. We increasingly knew that to be fruitful; we needed to find another place to dig kingdom wells.

God has been amazingly gracious and provided a spacious place for us to live and work. We stepped out of one world into what we thought was the unknown. But even on that first Sunday, God started to shape a new and spacious future for us. In Sept 2021, I walked out of my job. But we did not want to be the ex-church leaders who never worshipped anywhere again, so the following Sunday, we chose to turn up at West Wilts Vineyard as punters, not leaders. From day one, God had a plan. He was leading us into a spacious place.

The spacious place is not a beach.

Beaches are one of my favourite destinations. Falling asleep in the sun, mind drifting, not a care in the world. Dipping in the idyllic blue waters of the meditrainian to cool off. Listening to a good book. Then a slow retreat for an evening meal and a glass of wine.

But I don't live by the sea or have enough cash to be on constant holiday. So beach life is a periodic flash in the normality of the everyday. If the beach was normal, I am sure its appeal would wear thin quite quickly.

There is an ideal that we can sometimes aim for that brings the beach life into the everyday. This is often referred to as 'being present.' A wonderful state where we notice and embrace each moment for what it is. Not judging, just receiving.

Beaches get me close to that place. Work left behind, pausing with the love of my life. While I love my job, the holidays have my heart. A beach or pool or hill will do. Anything to unplug from the unrelenting beat of life to hear the heartbeat of life itself afresh. Beach days and holidays end. The relentless normality of everyday rhythm enfolds us in a tight grip.

The Spacious Place has Jesus at the centre.

The spacious place is rooted in where we are now; it is not a holiday destination or a mindful moment.

It is reality illuminated by the presence of Jesus, free from containment and rich with possibility. A place that we are invited into by Jesus where we see reality as he sees it. It is his perspective, Jesus at the centre, not me, that makes it meaningful, peaceful and purposeful.

The spacious place is one of continual movement, growth and opportunity. A constant choice to be present with him where ever I am.

On the short walk to this farm coffee shop, I listened to a track from my early Christian years. You may find it helpful to rest in it today and allow your friend Jesus to lead you into a spacious place.

Mark Searle 23-03-13