Time
I’ve always worn a wrist watch as far back as I remember. The other day, I was looking at a picture of me from early elementary school, and I was wearing a watch. I spend an unhealthy amount of time reading about watches and looking at watches. I pay a monthly membership to be part of a Slack community that is dedicated to watches.
It is safe to say that I have always been fascinated with time. My relationship to time has always been future-oriented. I have always found it difficult to be in the present moment. I often find myself thinking about the next day, week, or year more than the moment I am in. This has been especially true over the past few weeks.
I have been extended a call to serve as the Senior Pastor of St. Paul Church in Westport, Connecticut. As my wife and I discern this call, we have naturally been living in the future. We’ve been thinking, dreaming, and praying about what life could be like in New England. It’s all part of the process. However, I have noticed that I have been a bit disconnected from my actual life. As I have been consumed with what could be, I have been missing the beautiful things that are going on all around me every moment of the day.
I don’t think many of you reading this are discerning a move across the country, but I have a feeling that you can relate to the reality of missing out on what is going on around you as you focus on the future.
So, today I invite you to join me in taking a PAUSE. I invite you to PAUSE whatever it is you are doing or have to get done. PAUSE your planning for the meeting you have in a few hours or worrying about what you will make for dinner tonight. I invite you to be present to yourself and to your Creator.
I invite you to take a few breaths.
In. Out. In. And back out.
As you focus on your breathing, ask the Holy Spirit to quiet and still your mind as you pause.
Check in with yourself.
Where has your mind been lately? Here or somewhere far in a made-up future? Or maybe it has been stuck in the past.
Notice the sounds you hear in this moment. Notice what your eyes see in this moment, or what your nose smells in this moment.
What do you feel in your body?
As you slow down your heart, mind, and body and begin to become present to this moment, read these words from Isaiah, an ancient prophet to God’s people.
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear (Is. 65:24).
What do you need from God right now in this moment? Not in a few hours. Not tomorrow. What do you need right now?
I invite you to bring your present need to God, trusting that he hears you because he loves you and cares for you. You may want to say your need out loud, you may want to write it down, or you may want to quietly whisper it in your heart. Either way, God hears you.
Now, just be for the next 30 seconds.
Take a few more breaths.
Have a beautiful rest of your day.
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