The Sacredness of Now

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Abstract

as illustrations.The morning alarm rings. Do you procrastinate in bed, not wanting to get up, wishing it were the weekend; or, do you, no matter how you feel, decide to offer thanks for the new day, rise, and follow a routine that will help you fully meet the new day and all it has to offer.You are seated comfortably with your own thoughts, when your wife, child or colleague invites you to help them with something. Do you wave them away or decide to give them your full attention, time and consideration.You hear news of a disaster. Do you say, “poor things” and move on with the day; or, do you decide at least to offer a prayer for the victims or try to help out in some small way.You are on a hike. Do you walk mindlessly, or do you decide to walk with your senses fully awake, taking in the wonder of the sights, sounds and smells around you.You are traveling on a train or plane seated next to a fellow traveller. Do you bury yourself in a book or sleep; or, do you decide to make an attempt to communicate or at least acknowledge his or her presence.I have at one time or another, been personally guilty of each one of the self-indulgent sides of these scenarios. When I consider that God is one and

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that we are are all children of God, I shudder at my ability to neglect and waste the God given opportunities of the Now. I know, that changing my attitude and habits towards the Now opens the flow of Blessings that God wills for all of us. Treating the Now as sacred is all there really is. Our understanding of what and who God is increases. Our family and personal relationships become more genuine, meaningful and fulfilling. Our work, seen as opportunities to serve, increases our learning, contributions, satisfaction and well being. Our appreciation and acknowledgment of God’s creation, unveils to us the fullness of its splendor and glory.We are all self-indulgent, self-caring individuals and it is certainly not wrong to take time for ourselves. What we should consider is whether our self-indulgence takes up most of our Now, crowding out the opportunity for God and neighbor. May we, with God’s help, slowly change the quality of our Now, and enrich ourselves and those around us with a fuller appreciation of all of creation through the daily opportunities God sends our way.The Now is infused with God’s love. In our decisions to appreciate and learn to fully live in love and trust, we redeem the past and build a future without fear.</article></body>

Develop the habit of living in the present.

Image by Rhonda Carrier

How much time do we spend daydreaming or reflecting on the past and contemplating the future? The time we spend on the past and the future takes away from the very thing that effects them — the Now. The past was once the Now and the future is shaped by the Now. We do have to spend time planning for the future and constructively reflecting on the past, but we also need to try our best to focus on, and appreciate, the Now.

The following words from Mark’s gospel show us how we are to live in the Now.

“Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

To bring this into more practical terms, I offer the following scenarios as illustrations.

The morning alarm rings. Do you procrastinate in bed, not wanting to get up, wishing it were the weekend; or, do you, no matter how you feel, decide to offer thanks for the new day, rise, and follow a routine that will help you fully meet the new day and all it has to offer.

You are seated comfortably with your own thoughts, when your wife, child or colleague invites you to help them with something. Do you wave them away or decide to give them your full attention, time and consideration.

You hear news of a disaster. Do you say, “poor things” and move on with the day; or, do you decide at least to offer a prayer for the victims or try to help out in some small way.

You are on a hike. Do you walk mindlessly, or do you decide to walk with your senses fully awake, taking in the wonder of the sights, sounds and smells around you.

You are traveling on a train or plane seated next to a fellow traveller. Do you bury yourself in a book or sleep; or, do you decide to make an attempt to communicate or at least acknowledge his or her presence.

I have at one time or another, been personally guilty of each one of the self-indulgent sides of these scenarios. When I consider that God is one and that we are are all children of God, I shudder at my ability to neglect and waste the God given opportunities of the Now. I know, that changing my attitude and habits towards the Now opens the flow of Blessings that God wills for all of us. Treating the Now as sacred is all there really is. Our understanding of what and who God is increases. Our family and personal relationships become more genuine, meaningful and fulfilling. Our work, seen as opportunities to serve, increases our learning, contributions, satisfaction and well being. Our appreciation and acknowledgment of God’s creation, unveils to us the fullness of its splendor and glory.

We are all self-indulgent, self-caring individuals and it is certainly not wrong to take time for ourselves. What we should consider is whether our self-indulgence takes up most of our Now, crowding out the opportunity for God and neighbor. May we, with God’s help, slowly change the quality of our Now, and enrich ourselves and those around us with a fuller appreciation of all of creation through the daily opportunities God sends our way.

The Now is infused with God’s love. In our decisions to appreciate and learn to fully live in love and trust, we redeem the past and build a future without fear.