When “Present” Becomes Practice
Practice of Presence Teaching by Brian Mueller
At my high school, attendance was taken during third bell. Each morning the teacher silently recorded who had shown up for school that day on a card, which was placed into an envelope and later delivered to the main office to be scanned into the computer. If our regular teacher was absent, a substitute would call out our names, and we’d respond, “Here!” or “Present!”
Until I began learning about meditation and contemplative prayer, I never thought much about presence—only being present, which to me simply meant that my body was in a certain place at a certain time. It was easy enough to locate my physical self, but rarely were my mind or heart in the same place. They were almost always elsewhere.
In Accessing Presence (Chapter 4 of Choosing Presence), author Jim Heaney defines presence in the context of practice. He emphasizes that presence is, first and foremost, a spiritual practice, something we intentionally cultivate with stillness and breathwork throughout the day. Few of us will ever find our way to presence if we do not engage in these modest yet essential practices.
We must remember that the power of presence resides in its simplicity: every conscious breath becomes an act of awakening to divine presence at the center of our being. It’s not something to figure out or achieve, but something we do, moment by moment. As we practice presence, we step out of the noise and open ourselves to the peace and love that already surrounds us.
Take the Next Steps in Presence
Ready to go deeper? These journaling questions will help you reflect on Chapter 4 of Choosing Presence and guide you into greater awareness and stillness.
Accessing Presence – Enroll in Awakening to Presence and discover how stillness and conscious breathing can open your heart to encounter God here and now.
Brian Mueller – Poet, Community Organizer, and Spiritual Guide
Brian Mueller is a poet and community organizer based in Dayton, Ohio. He serves as Director of Education & Engagement for ChoosingPresence.org and is an active member of the Ohio Chapter of Illuman, where he co-leads writing retreats that support men’s spiritual journeys. As a writer, Brian is known for his candid, accessible poetry, with works including Cock‑A‑Doodle‑Doo: 100 Morning Haiku, the Poem of the Day series, and the Bull Series. Inspired by poets like Rumi and Mary Oliver, he believes everyone carries the voice of a poet within.
