And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

  - Luke 24.32

The holy man was reverenced with so great gratitude that where he remained for a time in a house, all hearts were resolved to practice the faith more strictly.

  - Jonas, Life of St. Columban, Italian, 7th century[1]

Some people affect us powerfully just by their presence. And not always for the better.

We’ve all known people who are so self-absorbed, inconsiderate of others, and focused on their own qualities and interests that they repulse and sadden us. They seem to think the world revolves around them, and there’s nothing more we’d like to hear about than more about them.

Yeah, no thanks. I despise that tendency in myself, and I don’t find it attractive in anybody else.

Then there is the occasional person whose presence exudes divine glory – something indescribable but real, something that turns our souls heavenward with wonder. Here we encounter peace, confidence, considerateness, excellence, goodness, forebearance, and love all rolled up into a single person. Such virtues fill the room, like Mary’s perfume, freed from its bottle, and everyone is aware of a most agreeable presence.

Granted, those folks are few and far between, but we’ve all known them.

What kind of response does our presence evoke? Are we withdrawn, reticent, and brooding in the company of others? So caught up in ourselves that others may as well not exist? Are we critical, complaining, noisy, or all-knowing?

Are we more a savor of death to death than of life to life (2 Cor. 2.14-16)?

Only God can enliven us with His warmth, refocus us by His intense interest in the souls of others, and grant us the patience to show His abiding concern to hear, heal, and renew.

We must keep a close watch on ourselves and listen for the Spirit to convict us of any areas where we are not embodying the resurrection life of Jesus (Ps. 139.23, 24). We must put off any old ways of life that savor of selfishness and death, and be clothed with Jesus, in all His seeking, caring, holy, and glorious ways (Eph. 4.17-24).

Then we might bring more of the fragrance of life to the people we encounter each day.

If this is to happen, if being around us is to cause others to experience glory, to be enlivened with hope, and to long for transcendent things, it will only be as Jesus becomes more vitally and consistently present through our lives. We just don’t have it in us; but because we have Jesus in us, the possibility that our lives might become a fragrance of life to life for many is very real.

Whom will you be with today? How will they experience your presence? Will your attentiveness, compassion, kindness, interest, and gentleness lift their souls heavenward?

Or will we just be like everyone else who drains others to fill their own needs, rather than kindles the flame of heavenly wonder and delight in their souls?

Psalm 139.23, 24 (Ripley: “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul”)
Search my heart, O Lord, and know me, as You only, Lord, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations, whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, Lord, nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, Lord, unto everlasting peace!

Lord, can I really affect others just by my presence? Can this really be so? How, Lord? Let Your Word be living and active in me today, Lord Jesus, that others may know You through me.

Thank you for your prayers, and for encouraging others to become part of The Ailbe Community by signing-up for one of our free instructional newsletters at the website. And thanks as well to those of you who share with us financially in this ministry. If the Lord is speaking to you about supporting our work, it’s easy enough to do, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.