Being in the Now Moment
When I am not in my now moment, it’s very much like going on a scenic journey through the crisp fall mountains while thinking about all I have to do when I get home. Stupid. I miss the experience because I am not in my now moment. I’m involved with my future and missing my very present moment. It would’ve been wiser for me just to stay home and do what I now am worrying about. Though I would’ve missed the beautiful vistas, at least it would have been more effective.
But without the Will of God this is a fruitless debate. If the Will of God was for me to be on the scenic journey, and I was mentally at home worrying about my work, I’d be in rebellion to His Will and vice versa. The Will of God is my standard. My obedience is to be in His Will, with all my being. His Will is found in my present moment.
Multitasking and My Now Moment
There is a farce out there that multitasking is the most effective means of getting things done. This is a joke. Let me give you an example. If I am a father and I go out to play with my children but instead I’m thinking about what I have to do at work tomorrow, I not only rob myself of the full joy of being with my children, I also rob them of me. Additionally, splitting my focus divides my effectiveness in preparing for work. Essentially, I am halfhearted in both endeavors and who wants a halfhearted effort? Speaking as a boss, a perpetually distracted employee is a candidate for a pink slip. And with a distracted father, the children can feel abandoned while he’s right before them. Being in the present moment is the only way to truly be alive.
This is easier said than done. I have trained my mind to run ahead and set things up for me. But I don’t have a huge cranium able to partition and parcel out my thoughts. And I don’t want the personality of a computer, which would be needed to do this. I want to be in my NOW moments.
Not in the Now Moment
I had a pastor once who I witnessed many times greeting the people. After his sermons, he would go out into the congregation and mingle. What I saw was something tragic. He would go and speak with people, all the while looking about the room for the next beneficiary of his token attention. This pastor would look through people, not at them. He wasn’t in his present moment; he was projecting his next. I was told this left many a congregant cool and empty. His heart was in the task, not in the moment, so he missed the enjoyment of the people. Had he visited one person a week, fully present in his moment, it would have been so much more fruitful.
In our industrial nation, equipped with smart devices and massive time crunches, it’s easy to become a task rather than a person. We become functionality rather than enjoyment. We can even do this with our vacations. I don’t go to experience a moment; I perform another task. “I’m now unwinding. I’ve got that checked off the list!”
IN the Moment
Life is found in our moments. And what makes us a person is being in that moment, experiencing it with Him and those He puts around us.
You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Psalm 16:11 NIV
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT
It’s been called “time slicing” (generating the idea of “multitasking”). Everyone does multitask… as while aware of a person in front of us, we also monitor the (more distant) surrounding environment.
Get with God and work out how much, when, where to “slice”? Prayer is often going to time slice you, as you remain in communication with the Father. Sometimes we are required to sit through things which are best given a narrow or limited “slice” of moments. Engaging a range from passive to active, expressed in moments.
Good point Marshall, thank you for commenting brother! Bless you!
John this is my reality. In my season of loss, my heart wants me to live in yesterday and fear tries to take me to tomorrow but His presence is here in the NOW. Its in His presence that we find the joy needed. In His presence that will lead me. Only in His presence will I find Him, now.
This is really beautiful. Of course this would absolutely be the tempt of your current life situation. This makes perfect sense! I will stand with you thank you can remain in the moment with your Beloved. He knows and is here NOW.
Love you so!
In my earlier days of parenting I couldn’t wait until the next stage (mostly so life would be easier for ME), but now that I am older and fully comprehend that children actually do grow up, and people are not always going to be in our life, I see the folly in this. Our tendency as you have stated, can be also to look back to the “good old days”, but this too is wasteful. Now is a gift from the Father. What will we learn? How will we love or serve? Will we rebel and say “I don’t want… Read more »
“Now is a gift from the Father.” Absolutely Celia. SO pleased you wrote this. I believe it is such a please of life! Thank you for your rich input Celia! Blessing you!
Very good word John.
Thank you Bruce! So pleased it ministered to you.
Being aware and present in the moments is how we keep from missing what is really in our heart, what others often see that we miss, and it is a way to not only know ourselves but to be known by God and transformed, otherwise we are just deceiving ourselves with religious beliefs and practice. We are talking about and not being or becoming. Being aware of Christ in us in each moment is how we let Him live in and through us to love and bring His Kingdom rule to each situation. It is how others experience and see… Read more »
Beautifully stated and perfect conclusion. His pursuit is what we have and what we need. Thank you for this and may you too stay in this present moment. Lobe you Tina!
I may be way off base (as that happens every-so-often ?) but this is how I apply todays post to my daily life. There have many been times when I’m sure I’ve been considered less than the optimal “hostess.” When we’re blessed with the company of others in our home my heart is to visit with them, to listen to them share about what’s been going on in their life. If I know they’re coming, and the Lord gives time, I greatly enjoy preparing ahead of time to the degree I am led. Once you are here and have seen… Read more »
I think it is perfectly in sync with this message. And I think it is a reflection of the Father’s own heart towards us. I believe He response to us in this very similar way. He just wants out undivided time and to enjoy every moment with us. Just Beautiful.
Thank you for your input and comments always!
LOVE YOU
I miss the experience when I am not in my now moment. That spoke volumes to me. Thank you. Love you and pray for a great new year for you and all the Shulamite team. Wanda
This is very timely. Also, the truth sets us free and this is freeing me to embrace the now moments. It’s so easy to forget. The people in my life, the job before me and most importantly the Lord Himself are worth my full attention.
This is a challenge, John, especially in the workplace: to follow the Lamb wherever HE goes, rather than responding, anticipating, preparing and focusing on all at the same time. Finding that surrendering my mind in obedience to the Spirit is not a one-time morning deal.
yes ……so tragic when one is not fully present each moment ….
thank you for the reminder …
A pediatrician taught me the word, ‘dissipated’, years ago. she Urged me to keep focused on my family and not become dissipated with projects, volunteer work or a career.
Love the autumn photo, John