American filmmaker Woody Allen is credited with the saying, “80% of success in life is just showing up.” We can haggle over percentages, but the point he is making rings true. The starting point for success in anything in life is being present when and where the job is being done. You can’t win a race if you don’t lace up your shoes and step out on the course. You can’t make the grade if you don’t step into the classroom (or log into the website, as the case may be). You can’t advance in a career if you don’t punch the clock at your place of employment. What we do when we show up is also of great importance, but being present puts us in the right place to turn potential into production. It all starts with “just showing up.”
The first step may not always be the most difficult, but it is almost always the hardest to take.
The struggle to show up is very real. We’ve all had mornings when we’ve struggled to find the will to go. Undoubtedly, the refrains of “I don’t want to go to work,” “I don’t want to go to school,” “I don’t want to go to practice,” “I don’t want to go to church,” “I don’t want to go to (fill in the blank)” will ring out early and often over the course of the coming days. The first step may not always be the most difficult, but it is almost always the hardest to take. As Isaac Newton observed, objects in motion will stay in motion, but it takes effort to get the objects moving, particularly when the object is “me.” It’s a battle we must fight on a daily basis.
Showing up is of particular importance when it comes to our walk with Jesus. As a matter of fact, I would submit that 80% may be a low-ball estimate in this case. The call of Jesus for each of us usually starts with the invitation to “COME;” it’s a call to show up. Two contrasting passages bring the struggle and the benefit to light. In Matthew 11:28, we read these words from Jesus, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And in Matthew 16:24, we read these contrasting words, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” These two verses form a paradox of sorts. Jesus promises rest, but also demands us to deny self and carry a cross.
When we come to Jesus, when we just show up, He promises to show up as well and, in His power, we can stand strong and find rest even in the midst of our daily struggles.
That is what’s so amazing about the gospel and grace, though. It has very little to do with what we have done or will do for Jesus. Yes, there is transformation that takes place as we come to and follow Jesus. Yes, we have to do the work of applying the truth of Scripture to our lives. But much, and we could argue all, of our action is empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. When we come to Christ, when we simply show up and offer ourselves to Him and He gives us all of Himself in return. The struggle for us is to have the strength to show up, to find the faith to come to Jesus and trust Him to do what He alone can do in and through us. He has already succeeded for us in all the ways we need through His sacrificial death and supernatural resurrection. When we come to Jesus, when we just show up, He promises to show up as well and, in His power, we can stand strong and find rest even in the midst of our daily struggles.
The invitation is still open. Jesus calls us to “COME!” I pray that today you find the strength to respond to His call and show up. 100% of the success we need most for this life and the next can only be found when we make the decision to show up to pursue His presence. He will always show up for us.
