The panelist was beneficially present by reporting her experience of the applicant. The applicant may have been startled by this presence, either because it was hateful to him in its exposure of something he thought to hide, or because he was used to coexistence in relationship rather than to presence. If it is to be an authentic encounter, it cannot be limited to coexistence at a particular point in a particular moment. There is true encounter only if there is being with. The word participate is meaningful here because in order to participate with others, to be present, we must cross the artificial barriers we have erected between ourselves and others.
Participation is made concrete and meaningful through curiosity.
In the case of the interview, the panelist creatively participated in presence with the applicant rather than choosing simply to coexist. The panelist's presence, however, went to more meaningful places in the applicant's existence by seeking to understand his experience in that moment. This seeking is curiosity. This is presence, because it fully engages with another in the moment by refusing to ignore the obvious. It is creative, because it opens the door of opportunity for one to deceive oneself no longer.