I was watching a reality show about drug addicts. One of the women on the show was crying about her daughter, desperate to see her quit and she sobbed, "I'm afraid if she doesn't do it she never will."
Well, duh, I thought and I laughed out loud. What she meant to say was, "If she doesn't do it now, she never will."
As I pondered the idea of doing things now I was struck with the simplicity and almost terrifying knowledge that NOW is all we ever have.
Too often I am stuck in my head with lists of things to do, what someone said, and what tomorrow brings that my now slips away into yesterday. Sometimes my now is painful and I would rather not be there. Sometimes my now is wonderful and I never want it to be anything else.
I think being present is a struggle for most of us--adults. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." He was talking about being present tense I think. Children have this incredible ability to tune out everything, suspending judgement, and be totally present. As a matter of fact, we parents spend our lives trying to teach them to think ahead and be cognisant of the ramifications of there actions. After all, running with a pencil in your hand could lead to permanent disability. I don't think Jesus was asking us to live carelessly, but carefreely.
Bear with me here folks. I would like to ask everyone to try to do something carefree today. To interject "carefreeness" somehow into your day. Maybe it's time to roll down a grassy hillside. Get creative. Maybe this means supending doubt about someone. Maybe you can let them be someone totally fresh? This is a really great exercise with people that drive you nuts. How about crying, even though it's inconvient. If you are sad, maybe you need to be for just a moment.
I believe that this little exercise will yield some interesting revelations. So try it and share your experience!
Well, duh, I thought and I laughed out loud. What she meant to say was, "If she doesn't do it now, she never will."
As I pondered the idea of doing things now I was struck with the simplicity and almost terrifying knowledge that NOW is all we ever have.
Too often I am stuck in my head with lists of things to do, what someone said, and what tomorrow brings that my now slips away into yesterday. Sometimes my now is painful and I would rather not be there. Sometimes my now is wonderful and I never want it to be anything else.
I think being present is a struggle for most of us--adults. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." He was talking about being present tense I think. Children have this incredible ability to tune out everything, suspending judgement, and be totally present. As a matter of fact, we parents spend our lives trying to teach them to think ahead and be cognisant of the ramifications of there actions. After all, running with a pencil in your hand could lead to permanent disability. I don't think Jesus was asking us to live carelessly, but carefreely.
Bear with me here folks. I would like to ask everyone to try to do something carefree today. To interject "carefreeness" somehow into your day. Maybe it's time to roll down a grassy hillside. Get creative. Maybe this means supending doubt about someone. Maybe you can let them be someone totally fresh? This is a really great exercise with people that drive you nuts. How about crying, even though it's inconvient. If you are sad, maybe you need to be for just a moment.
I believe that this little exercise will yield some interesting revelations. So try it and share your experience!
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