January 10th - Anchored in the present

The story...

Thankfully, I've learned the value of focusing on, and being more aware of, the present - where life actually occurs.  Our bodies sense what's going on now even though the cause of the sensation is likely rooted in the past.  We can read about God yet our spirit senses His Spirit in the present as He intervenes or as His Spirit interacts with our spirit as we quietly pray or meditate.  We've reasons to expect what will happen in the future yet each new day's unknown.  How many days have we ended the day thinking  "I never would have expected that?"  Yes, we'll all experience, and recall, each day together in different ways.  Oh... to be more in synch with others, listening, to grow our understanding of "what's going on?"

One day, I wrote what I planned to say at my Momma's memorial service. Almost all of my parent's descendants attended that memorial service.  Congregates were asked to focused on the past, and remember, some of who she was amongst them.  All had lost a relationship - a chunk of who they were and a partial cause of who'll they be.  Yes the "we" is valuable and and a more complete perceptive than the limited "me." 

I believe I spoke from my heart, displayed the love that I had for my momma; each and every family member; and for "That Than Which there is No Greater," our God, our Creator, our Savior.  Maybe we left the memorial service with a better understanding of the wonderfully different people within the "we" that makes up family.

When you walk through the doors of the only church in town, you'll have the opportunity to leave the distractions of the world, your community, your home, and the cares of the world outside.  There'll be opportunities to focus on the present - the spiritual reality that's true in the present and will exist throughout all eternity.  The congregation will be a wonderful "we" who share a common faith in our common Creator, Lord, and Savior.

Maybe there's a way to integrate "we" into a favorite motto for my living a good life?   "Live for today, plan for tomorrow and think on eternity."

Just for today...

"To break the cycle of worry and fear, I'm learning to focus all my attention on this very moment . . . These bits of reality help rescue me from "what ifs" and "should haves" by anchoring me in the present."  Courage to Change (p. 10)