When we’re out and about in our vehicle, it is wise to look in the rearview mirror. Just as important, it is wisdom to keep our eyes on the road in front of us, and to either direction for that matter.
What is necessary for the highway applies less to daily life. Why?
If we choose to spend a lot of time looking back at the way things were, we soon begin to cast those experiences in an image of our own liking, one that may perceive those days as mostly perfect, even wonderful.
If we choose to spend a lot of time looking forward at the way things might be, we soon begin to cast those future experiences in an image of our liking, one that may perceive the days yet to come as perfect, even wonderful.
And yet, we persist in looking back or looking forward. Why?
Our tendency to engage in this kind of behavior seems to be connected to present moment of comfort or discomfort. If we are generally comfortable, we are more likely to savor the moment. If we are uncomfortable, we are more likely to wish were we were elsewhere, anywhere, but in the here and now. Ergo the desire to escape.
It’s not that we are to ignore the past, or hyper-focus on the future. We need to remember what the previous experiences have taught us. We need to have some sense of where we’re headed.
The key is to discover that today, this moment, is the link between the last one and the next one. Because the last one is gone and the next one has not yet occurred, we do ourselves a great favor—to say nothing of enjoy more of what life has to offer—when we choose to embrace the present.
Being in the moment—truly seeing the way things are—opens us to unlimited possibilities to embrace the nuances that make this moment more than “one to compare to what happened before” or “just another to get through to the next” as quick as we can.
One of the best opportunities to live the fullness of the now moment is to pay attention to our five senses. What do I see? Raindrops cascading onto parched earth, a small child splattered in mud? What do I hear? The lilting notes of a happy robin, the voice of a beloved spouse or friend? What do I taste? A drippy, sweet ripe peach, snowflakes on my tongue? What do I smell? A whiff of woodsy smoke from an evening campfire, the crisp, cool air of an early spring morning? What do I feel? The soft, flawless skin of a newborn, gratitude for a healthy family?
To live this way is easier said than done. Pun intended. Nonetheless, if we are willing to let go of the past and our need to know what’s around the next corner, we might find ourselves eager to begin a new day as a new adventure. One that brings God’s peace, joy, and love in moments we could not have imagined, even when it seems everything is more than a little uncomfortable.
Am I content with the way things are? If not, why not?
Do I tend to let my mind and emotions run back to the past or race into the future?
How often do I allow the gift of my five senses enliven the present moment?
