Have you ever had a thought that simply would not leave you alone? Maybe you felt like you should call someone, check in on a friend, reach out to a client, or make time for a conversation. You may not have known why, but something kept nudging you to act.
That happened to me recently. I felt strongly that I needed to visit a client I had not seen in several months. There had not been an urgent phone call or an obvious problem. From everything I knew, things were going well. Still, I could not shake the feeling that I needed to go. The visit required about four hours of driving each way, and like most of us, I had plenty on my calendar that could have given me a reason to put it off. But I went.
When I arrived, I learned that although many things were going well, the client was dealing with an issue he had not shared with me. Being there gave us the opportunity to sit down, talk honestly about what was happening, and figure out how we could address it together. Had I not made the trip, I may never have known there was a concern.
It reminded me how much presence still matters. Technology allows us to work and connect with people almost anywhere, and I am incredibly grateful for that. But there are things a screen cannot always show us. Sometimes you need to sit across from someone, look them in the eye, and listen closely enough to hear not only what they are saying, but what they may be struggling to say.
I have always believed there are different ways we are called to lead. Sometimes we walk in front and help show the way. Sometimes we step back and support others as they lead. And sometimes we simply need to walk beside someone. We may not have the answer right away, but being present reminds people that they do not have to figure everything out alone.
For me, knowing when to show up is also deeply connected to my faith. I believe the Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways, including those quiet nudges that tell us to call someone, go somewhere, or pay closer attention. Someone else may call it intuition or a gut instinct. Whatever you call it, I think most of us have experienced that feeling that keeps coming back even when we cannot explain why.
We are all busy, and there will always be something competing for our time. But this experience reminded me that not everything important will arrive on our calendar marked “urgent.” Sometimes the people around us need something they have never actually asked us for.
The next time you feel that nudge to make the call, take the drive, check in, or simply show up, pay attention to it. You may not understand why until you do. Sometimes, you just have to trust the nudge and make the time.