Be.

It has taken me a few years to recognize this pattern in myself, but this year I finally saw it clearly. Every late November/ early December, when we are finished decorating our home for Christmas, I think Wow, this is so beautiful and magical! Why would I ever want to pack up this Christmas magic?! Fast forward to January 1st, and I am itching to stuff our tinsel tree back into its box and make it look like Christmas never happened. As I was taking everything down last week, I got a little sad because I blinked and the Christmas season was over.

You may relate to me or you may be one of those odd people who leave their lights up year-round. Either way, Christmas feels like it happened a lifetime ago. I am already working on sermons for Lent and planning my summer series. The grocery store already has Valentine’s Day cards out, and I am sure their back room is filled with Easter eggs and 4th of July poppers.

It is safe to say that as a people, we are really bad at being in the moment. We are usually living somewhere in the past or somewhere in the future. Neither of which really exists. It is a lost art to simply be. To be present to the here and now. To be present to your body, your emotions, the sounds, and the people around you. To be in God’s presence in your ordinary life. I guarantee that some of you are skimming this so you can get to the next thing. No shame, I do it too.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum, living in the past or the future, let’s take a moment to PAUSE and be present to the only real thing in our lives.

This.

Exact.

Moment.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Slowly pray this ancient prayer.

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know that I.

Be still and know that.

Be still and know.

Be still and.

Be.