This Is Now
The phrase, “today is here and now” which I heard recently, kind of struck me! While that sounds a little simplistic and obvious, I can't help but think of the recent events that have changed our lives forever. There have been fires ravaging across the globe, deadly monsoons wreaked havoc in India, and other areas of the world just last year and now locust swarms three times the size of New York City are devouring East Africa, among other “natural disasters!”
I remember last year, as I watched the hurricanes here in the United States, days before they hit land, feeling uneasy. But our “new normal” is an ‘uneasy’ I never expected! It has us in a place we’ve never been before. Whenever there were fires, storms, blizzards or other natural disasters, we knew they were destructive and stole lives. But we are facing a tiny germ we can’t even see, -- know that it’s out there, and can’t run. In fact, we are told the best option is to ‘shelter-in-place.’
As I reflect on my anxiety, no matter what the disaster, I am reminded that regardless of my emotions, there is not a single thing I can do about it! (Short of doing my part by observing social distancing!) I need to leave the results in a Power much higher than mine. As we face these new uncertain times, this is truth, regardless of our faith.
I learned a neighbor of one of my daughters who lives out west, committed suicide this past week. No one can know all the reasons for such a dramatic and unchangeable action, but it’s the sign of the times. People are afraid; they don’t want to suffer from some invisible germ, or deal with the economic burst, also going on around us. Yet, not one of us is promised a single breath past our last one.
The point is, must live for today--- like it could be our last one. This is now...this is the moment we must embrace, focus on, and take the effort to move forward, even as we wait. Worrying about tomorrow and over things we have no control is a futile attempt at being in control, that will always fail us.
We can hold onto our memories and even have dreams and goals to work toward. But we do not own those moments. When we rely on our memories, regardless how cherished, to move forward, we will find we are destroying the progress of today. This is our moment---our gift, if you will. This is now, our current center and the place we must choose to move from, ---forward – if we plan on living life to the fullest, and in the way, our Creator intended.
I encourage you to reach way down within you, dig out the remains of your faith, and be thankful for wherever you are and whatever blessings you can see--- and perhaps, even in your sadness, frustration and fear, those blessings that seem to be alluding you. Good is all around and often more so when we are at our worst, in our distress. It’s what we do.
Will our broken (and very ill) world see an immediate fix? Likely no, but with a positive attitude and belief in all that is good, we can change our moments so "now" is manageable regardless the situation.