Be Here Now . . .

I've been meaning to post this for several weeks, because it made such an impact on me.  After a crazy-busy August, Jason and I were sooo excited to have Labor Day weekend at home.  He had not had a day off in the month of August, and we looked forward to going on a date, watching football, and not doing much else.

The weekend turned out even better than we hoped - wonderful, enjoyable, relaxing.  We even got to spend a few hours with family celebrating Paul J's new job at the University of South Alabama.  It was everything we hoped for, and Monday night we were so relaxed and peaceful.

And then something happened.  Tuesday, we went back to work.  And life hit again.  He was preparing to leave for Tres Dias on Thursday, I was preparing to spend the weekend in Birmingham, work had just piled up while we were out, and all the stuff we had escaped over the weekend came right back.  Several times, I caught myself thinking, "I shouldn't have relaxed all weekend.  I should have been working on this or that.  This is what I get."  I shared with Jason that I just felt like the most important things in life weren't getting my attention like they should.  He agreed.  It was a very stressful week and struggle to find peace.

As He has done so many times, God provided me with some direction from one of my college girls.  We weren't even talking about my stress when she shared this:  "Quite possibly the best thing I ever got out of counseling was the idea of being here now - I was almost never in the now - I was always regretting something from the past or planning something for the future.  And the worst part was {my daughter} was always in the now, as all children pretty much are.  So it was like I was never really connecting with her because she could tell when I was there physically and not mentally.  I would encourage you to start eliminating everything that is not essential and top priority until you start to feel like you can live in the moment.  Try to be here now as much as you can."

Wow.  That made such an impression on me.  And the other girls, I know, so I thought some of you readers might need to hear it too.  When I really started praying on this, God was faithful to help me eliminate some things right away, even though I didn't necessarily want to.  I am definitely still seeking some further clarification and answers on some of the busy-ness that seems to consume my time.  The Bible tells us that the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6) - that is the mind I want!

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.  Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds.  They don't plant or harvest, or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care of you.  Why do you have so little faith?
So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear?'  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Matthew 6:25-34