We live in a world that celebrates bold gestures. Social media encourages us to post grand achievements, major life updates, and curated moments of joy and success. But what about the quiet, unseen, possibly kind of boring moments—the ones that don’t make for a good social media post?

In Spanish, there’s a word: acompañar. It doesn’t quite translate into English. It means to accompany, to walk alongside someone, to be present—not to fix, solve, or perform, but simply to be there.

English has words like “support” or “help,” but they often imply action—doing something for someone. Acompañar is different. It’s about presence over performance. It’s about choosing to show up, even when there’s nothing glamorous about it.

Oftentimes, the invitation to “acompañar” shows up in the most mundane and inconvenient ways… it’s getting to know our neighbors, one small interaction and awkward conversation at a time. It’s learning the name of the person who walks their dog down the street every day at 3PM. It’s letting the customer behind you at the grocery store who only has one item in their cart go ahead of you and listening as they tell you about their family crisis… it’s the slow work of showing up, choosing to be present and walking alongside.

Jesus practiced acompañar long before it had a name. He walked with people, sat at their tables, shared meals, asked questions, listened. He didn’t rush to fix or solve. He was simply with them.

And that’s the invitation for us, too. Not to wait for the big, dramatic moments to step in, but to be present in the mundane. To check in. To sit in the silence. To walk beside, not ahead.

So, what would it look like?

Maybe acompañar means reaching out to someone who seems a little distant. Maybe it introducing yourself to that neighbor who moved in a year ago or showing up for a friend in a tough season — not with solutions, but with a cup of coffee and a listening ear. Maybe it means walking alongside our neighbors—not just when there’s a reason, but because life is richer when shared.

It’s not flashy, but neither is love most of the time. And maybe that’s the point.

So this week, let’s ask ourselves: Who are the people in my life that I am walking alongside? Of course, there’s lots of invitation to “acompañar” with family and close friends… But what about those folks I don’t know as well, like a neighbor, co-worker or someone from the gym? Where might I be invited to simply show up and be a little more present?