Reflect
Years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip while I was in high school. Among the many takeaways from the experience, there were certain phrases that came up during the trip that were kind of like mantras for the group to keep grounded. One of those phrases was “Be here now. Be there then.” This was to remind us to not worry or think too much about returning home, though it was hard to not feel homesick over those six weeks. It was a reminder to try to embrace as fully as possible the life-changing experience that was at hand. I still go back to this phrase whenever I realize that I’m living too much in the past or the future.
Pray
God of time and beyond time,
I’m stuck again.
This time, I’m fixating on a past failure,
But later, I’m sure I’ll find some fears about the future to worry over.
In the here and now, you are. And I am.
I know in my head and feel in my heart that the present
is always our only access point to you.
May the mindful moments when I say yes to you in the now,
Help me navigate the many times I am lost in the past or the future, detached from you.
Act
How much does time play a role in your daily life? Are you rushing to and from one fire to another, constantly trying to be on time and crossing things off your list? I know I do. Without looking at a clock or screen, simply sit somewhere comfortable today and try to guess if five minutes have gone by. Pray, meditate, or daydream: It doesn’t matter! When you’re ready, check and see how much time actually passed. It was probably not exactly five minutes.
