Time is and always will be one of the most temporary aspects of human existence. As soon as we notice that something is occuring, the moment that it claimed our attention has already receded into the past. We tend to be more focused upon either the past(...reflecting or recalling what happened earlier today or this week... or in some cases dwelling upon things that happened years ago) or upon the future (anticipating, planning ahead, expecting...etc.)
These tendencies result in a fairly significant squandering of our time...which is a gift from God, determined by God. Only God knows when our flow of moments of earthly existence will be "over". No matter how sophisticated our means of measuring life and vitality, we can never adequately predict the moment that time as we know it will stop. Therefore, it is wise to savor the only time that we can actually see with certainty: and that time is NOW. Staying present to NOW allows us to be occupied rather than PREOCCUPIED. We stay activated and attentive to what is to be done now. We are less likely to be distracted or diverted by our own inclinations, which may well be erroneous at best...sinful at worst.
In order to see what is going on within and around us NOW we need to discipline our minds. The human mind is notorious for lingering in the past or whisking into the future. I read once of a writer who admired an eagle hovering at the peak of its flight. He observed that for the eagle, the only moment at hand is NOW. Whether winging its way into an airstream, gliding along on a current, or plummeting like lightening to possess some unassuming prey, the eagle is clearly doing what is called for "right now". The eagle doesn't soar with the notion in mind that in 5 or 10 minutes she is planning to dive.... The eagle watches, waits, and then the sight of movement triggers the nearly reflexive adjustment of body that results in the dive (usually hitting the mark).
In the same way, if we can discipline our minds and our bodies to be fully present to any given moment, we can discover, rather than decide, when the next large or small step or move is to be taken.
Try this: settle in your chair, take some breaths, noticing the air passing into your body. Feel the chair supporting you, notice the places where your skin is touching fabric or some other part of your body. Feel where your feet are meeting the floor.....notice the quality of the air around you.
Read the previous paragraphy slowly...you may actually begin to feel yourself becoming more fully "present" to the moment you are living right NOW. Notice any feelings you are experiencing...
Before you pray, try to center in this way. This is important, because as we pray, whatever God is bestowing is being given to us precisely because it is what we need right now.... counsel, guidance, comfort, wisdom, truth, a call to repentence, resolution. These and so many other forms of God's ministry to you are being lavished upon you as God knows you need...right NOW. If you receive, then, what God is bestowing right now, you are more fully equipped to move into the next moment... the next NOW. Living this way, grounded and centered in the moment results in a series of genuine moments when we have been aware of God's gift or guidance. Those series of moments are like the dots on a child's "dot to dot" puzzle. Rest assured, that when those dots are connected your life's picture will be revealed ...the life with which God has gifted you ... the life that allows you to move and respond freely.
We know that we don't have "all the time in the world"...we do know, however, that we have NOW...and right NOW God is with us, guiding us, establishing our feet firmly on the path of faith to do amazing things in Christ's name.
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