Life is awesome. To live in the present is to recognize each moment as a gift that only comes once and when gone it never comes again. Time is described like an unrelenting tide that stops for nothing cutting a path and leaving those that are unprepared or unyielding in its wake. Ready or not here it is now.
To live in the moment requires that we be consciously present and willing is nice too. When I'm in the moment I'm more open and aware of spiritual guidance. I'm prompted to make a call to a friend that I haven't talked to in a while, or go to a coffee house where another old friend shows up. A song on the radio, a book, a television show or any old little thing that triggers some thought and viola wonderful happens.
I love reminding people that miracles happen all the time when we're open to receive. The trouble is that we either block it or ignore it. We get complacent or lazy. I've done it too. Opting to passively watch rather than engage. What I've schedule for tomorrow remains in my tomorrows that never comes and I fall prey to the law of diminishing intent.
Carpe Diem
I was over a friend's house years ago, we were in our twenties. We had decided to go for a leisurely walk around her neighborhood; we use to do that all the time (I wonder why we stopped). On this particular day this older woman was solemnly watering her lawn, as we approached, she turned off her hose and said to us, if you have something you want to do, do it now don't wait. She said she and her husband had sacrificed and saved planning to travel when they both retired. She got this blank distant look in her eyes and then said "he went and died on me six months before retirement." She turned her hose back on. I remember getting caught up on her anger; she made it sound as if it was something he did to her purposefully. She was angry at him for something he had no control over. In the moment the message was overshadowed by her grief.
To be honest we have been a bit critical of those among us that seek immediate gratification, saying that we have to work for what we want and be patient. We know too that tomorrow is not promised and none of us gets a do over. So what are we waiting for? Retirement, a rainy day or what? How often do you say tomorrow?
In a church service one day I listened as the minister talked about a friend who had asked her to will a $1,200 bottle of wine to her. The minister had been saving the bottle for a special occasion. When we're looking for something special nothing seems to be special enough to open a bottle that was already paid for.
Something similar happened to me. I bought a can of lump crab meat that was on sale and didn't want to eat it alone so I kept waiting to open it. I'd had friends over for dinner but nothing seemed special enough for me to open the crab. I grilled or made salads but had not opened my crab. Finally after saving it for 6 months I decided I'd better just make some crab cakes anyway. As soon as I pierced the can the smell of my precious crab hit my nose. I wasted $20 waiting for something special rather than realizing that if I used any of the other opportunities to make the crab cakes that would have created the specialness.
I know it doesn't seem like much but many of us squander away opportunities waiting for something to happen rather than making the moment special. We each have the power to bring specialness to any situation. So go ahead and put on that dress, lingerie, shoes, suit or cologne. Splurge on every meal that you have time to enjoy; you never know when it'll be your last. Come to every moment with your entire being and reach deeply it maybe your last chance. The only moment is now so seize it! Carpe Diem!
