My first book, Join the Adventure, is based on a story a friend told me about a 90-year-old lady who moved into a nursing home, noticed that the residents had nothing to do on Sunday afternoons, and started an informal story-sharing session. This led to her starting Bible studies among the residents and her efforts grew into significant ministry. My friend summarized her actions as:

• Be there
• Pay attention
• Do what you can
• Tell the truth

Once when I shared from that outline, my 20-year-old grandson said, “Great sermon, GrandBob. Except for the first point. The first point is stupid! Everyone is where they are!” Actually, they’re not. Most people spend their time wishing they were somewhere else.

I was pleased to see Heather Holleman’s July 7 blog: All There. She started by quoting Jim Elliott, one of the five missionaries killed in Ecuador in 1956:

Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. – Jim Elliott

Heather continues:

Wherever I am, I want to be all there.

Being “all there” means so many things to me: it means not always wishing for a different situation; it means fully embracing the gifts God gives in every place; and it means actively seeking to discover those gifts that sometimes come hidden or disguised. It means loving others fully without focusing on myself. I want to be “all there” for other people around me.

I’m all there to observe the nature around me.

I’m all there to listen to others and really see them.

I’m all there to receive what God has.

I’m all there with finding friendship with God all day long. He’s “all there” all the time.

The apostle Paul also supports the “be all there” concept:

And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there… (1 Corinthians 7.17, MSG)