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. Sure, 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 make the Now matter.
The following words from Mark’s gospel show us plainly how we are to live in the Now. The Now should be infused with the love of God and neighbor and in so far as we do this well, we redeem the past and build a future without fear.
“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 simple scenarios as little illustrations.
The morning alarm rings. Do you procrastinate in bed, not wanting to get up and wishing it were the weekend; or, do you 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 with a dismissive “not now” or, 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 at least 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 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 make an attempt to communicate and 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 we are are all children of God, and created in His image, 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, as God intends it, is all there really is. Our knowledge of God and his Will for us increases. Our family and personal relationships become more genuine, meaningful and fulfilling. Our work, seen as Now opportunities and free from deadly procrastination, increases our learning, contributions, satisfaction and well being. Our appreciation and acknowledgment of God’s many gifts of creation unveil to us the fullness of their 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, thus crowding out the opportunity for God and neighbor. May we, with God’s help, slowly but surely, change the quality of our Now, and enrich ourselves with fuller relationships of God and neighbor through the daily opportunities He sends us.
Educhirp 