But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” (I Samuel 3:16 ESV)
Totally Present
Sometimes we answer a call or question with an obscure, “What?”
Sometimes we answer a call or question with a vague, “Uh-huh.”
Sometimes we answer a call or question with a glance.
But Samuel says one Hebrew word. And that word means, “I am here, attentive, focused, willing, and not distracted.”
It might be a nod towards God’s answer to Moses, “I am.”
It might be a word that honors the one who calls.
It might be a word that focusses the responder on the honor of the one (or One) calling.
But Samuel had a servant’s heart. He said, “Here I am” to both God and Eli. He lived his live of humble service with an attitude of, “Here I am.”
Because he was usually nowhere else.
Jesus, too, and more completely said, “Here I am.” He said it in Gethsemane. He showed it at His baptism. He said it as he wept for Lazarus.
He was truly Emmanuel. God with us.
When you are alone, remember that Jesus says, “Here I am.”
When you see hurt, copy Samuel and Jesus by saying, “Here I am.”