Be still…Right Here, Right Now

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” – Luke 17: 20 - 21 (NRSV)

“One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

It’s Sunday and a beautiful spring day. As you emerge from the doldrums of late winter, you have a lot on your “to do” list. But it’s Sunday and, as is your custom, you go to morning worship at church. As you are sitting in the pew, you find yourself thinking about all the things you want to accomplish in the next couple of weeks. Then you see a friend a couple of pews in front of you and you find yourself ruminating over a recent conversation with her that didn’t go so well. The next thing you know, you are standing for the doxology and you have no idea what the sermon was about. You were physically present but you were “living” in the future and in the past.

It has been said that we spend 50% of our time either in the past or in the future. We all have wonderful memories that we cherish and difficult memories of pain and sorrow. And we have things we plan for in the future that excite us and things that cause us dread. We frequently go around with our minds so full of memories and plans that we miss what is before us. To quote Katherine May, an internationally known bestselling author and podcaster in the UK, “When we endlessly ruminate over distant times

[and I would add future times as well], we miss extraordinary things in the present moment. These extraordinary things are, in actual fact, all we have: the here and now.” (2) It’s the rumination, the dwelling in the past or the future, that tends to hook us. God cautions us about this tendency, encouraging us to stay with what is before us (refer to Proverbs 17: 9; the Book of Ecclesiastes; and Matthew 6: 25-34, for example).

Our physical presence at an event is important as a sign of support. But think how much richer the experience would be for us and potentially for others if we were present in “the here and now”! How much more effective would we be in our ministries if we were fully present? Where might we see God working? Where might we see God’s love and justice and mercy in action? How might we join in God’s work?

When we become members of a United Methodist Church, we vow “to faithfully participate in its ministries by [our] prayers, [our] presence, [our] gifts, [our] service, and [our] witness.” (emphasis added) (3) I would suggest that this call for our presence is a call for more than our physical presence, though that is the first step. Our call is to be mindful, to be aware of all that is before us without getting lost in the past or the future. After-all, that is where God is, in the present moment. Yes, God was present in our past and will be present in our future. But God and God’s kingdom are here right now!

When we are mindful of the present moment extraordinary things can and will be revealed to us as we open ourselves to the Divine Presence. In those moments when I am fully present, I find myself more alert and alive and filled with hope and joy. My eyes and ears are open to the sacredness all around me and I feel God’s presence surrounding me. I have a sense of “being in the world but not of it.” Henri Nouwen, a 20th c. theologian, said, “Be sure to taste the moment to the full. The Lord always reveals himself to you where you are most fully present.”

(4)

Staying in the present moment without letting your mind wander is not easy. When you find your mind going to the past or the future, pause. Follow your breath. Breathe in slowly and envision your breath filling your lungs and traveling throughout your body. Slowly exhale. Repeat several times. It is amazing how something as simple as focusing on your breath which is in “the here and now” can help you come back to the present moment. And as you come to the present moment, try to “stay where your hands are”, as a good friend and spiritual director colleague of mine likes to say.

So let’s go back to that Sunday morning and the beautiful spring day. You have a lot on your “to do list” but as you drive to church you intentionally set aside the list so that you can be mindful of the moments ahead. On your way to the church, you notice a hint of baby green on the trees and crocuses and daffodils making an appearance. You walk into the sanctuary

Written by Christine McHenry

and you are struck by the light shining through the stain-glass windows. It’s as if God is smiling because you are there. You see friends who greet you warmly and pastors who are concerned about your welfare. The music during the service makes your heart sing and you feel love and belonging. The scripture text and the sermon speak to you in a new and refreshing way. At the end of the service, the pastor sends the congregation forth by the power of the Holy Spirit to make God and God’s kingdom known to the world, a kingdom filled with awe and love, forgiveness and acceptance.

Being fully present makes a difference in how we experience the moment. And not just on Sundays! When your mind wanders and you find yourself getting “hooked” to the past or to the future, practice pausing and breathing and “staying where your hands are.” God has wonderful experiences and things to reveal if we are fully present. May it be so as we continue our journeys.

1. Grateful Living, Word for the Day, January 31, 2023

2. Katherine May, Grateful Living, Word for the Day, January 25, 2023

3. Book of Discipline: ¶217. Membership Vows, The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016

4. Henri Nouwen, Daily Meditations, January 30, 2023

Christine McHenry, MD, MATS

February, 2023