Presence Looks Like This
The Power of Being Known
This weekend, I had the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest leadership minds of our time—not just locally, but worldwide. Dr. John Maxwell. He’s written nearly 100 books, been an influential speaker and teacher for decades, and remains a source of wisdom for leaders great and small.
We were blessed to have him at our church and to attend a special session where he broke down a well-known parable in ways I had never seen before. After the event, I had the chance to spend a brief minute or two with him—and in that short time, I received a masterclass in leadership.
He made me feel important.
He seemed genuinely interested in me.
He shouldn’t have been…I’m not that interesting! But in just a couple of minutes, he shifted my perspective—not just on leadership, but on what it means to make someone feel seen.
When someone we admire, someone in a position of influence, pauses long enough to really notice us, we feel it. It’s not fake. It’s not casual. It’s presence. And it’s powerful.
Presence Looks Like This
Dr. Maxwell didn’t just shake my hand and move on. He:
Asked my name—and remembered it.
Asked thoughtful questions.
Noticed details—things I said, even things about my physical stature.
Asked about my kids.
Made me laugh.
Encouraged me as we parted.
All of that… in just a few minutes.
It was simple, but not shallow. And it mattered.
Jesus Did the Same
There’s a moment in Scripture that reminds me of this—when Jesus shows us what it looks like to make someone feel known. It’s early in the morning, just after the crucifixion. Mary Magdalene is outside the empty tomb, mourning.
“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying.” – John 20:11
She’s devastated. Confused. She’d just watched the man who changed her life suffer and die. Now even His body is gone. Two angels appear, and then Jesus Himself shows up—but she doesn’t recognize Him.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’” – John 20:15
She thinks He’s the gardener, and pleads with Him to tell her where the body has been taken.
Then comes one of the most powerful moments in all of Scripture:
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” – John 20:16
Just one word. Her name.
And in that moment, everything changes.
She turns and cries out, “Rabboni!” — meaning Teacher.
The Power of One Word
Jesus didn’t explain the resurrection first.
He didn’t preach.
He didn’t even quote Scripture.
He simply called her by name, and by doing that, He showed her: I see you. I know you. You matter to me.
Mary, who moments ago was weeping and lost, now becomes the first witness to the risen Christ.
As we begin our week, here’s something simple and life-changing: pick someone to see.
Look for the person who feels overlooked. The one who’s weary. The one who’s always pouring out but may never get filled.
Give them a few moments of your real attention.
Ask their name.
Ask a question that shows you care.
Notice something about them.
Encourage them.
That’s all it takes.
You don’t have to be John Maxwell.
You don’t have to be Jesus.
But you can be someone who sees others the way they did.
And for someone today, that just might mean everything.
-Mark
