The Joy of Being Present

“Can I pray for you?”

She looked at me with gratitude, a shy “sure”, and nod.

Her bridesmaids and I gathered round. I prayed. It was a holy moment.

My college friend had asked me to read during the ceremony and basically serve as her attendant.

We didn’t talk about faith, and my question was a result of Holy Spirit’s prompting and being fully present in that moment.

I would like to live in the moment more.

Do you ever struggle to be fully present?

You’re physically there.

The one you love and value is before you.

Yet mentally, emotionally, spiritually, you’re somewhere else.

This has been especially difficult for me recently.

A relational struggle, and how to resolve it, has consumed most of my mental, emotional, and spiritual waking and sleeping hours.

The result?

Complete disconnect from where I am right now, and the person before me.

I’ve been missing them.
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During this time, I’ve witnessed my teenage son separate from us more.

Not in a bad way.

Rather in the healthy, ‘I’m getting older and can - and want to - do more on my own’ way.

It reminds me that this season is precious.

Each day, each moment, a gift.

I want to capture this time – be fully there in it.

Yet how?

When I accepted the role in the wedding above, I prayed the Lord would give me a servant’s heart.

Because of this intention, I thought about her, and anticipated her needs.

I saw her, noticed her, paid attention to her.

Then acted on what I observed.

As I thought about this topic, the Lord brought this brief weekend to mind.
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One I continually go back to with a desire to be like that again.

It gave me great joy to serve her in that way.

Then it dawned on me.

The reason it was special and significant is because I was present most of the time.

How was I present?

The amazing gift of self-forgetfulness!

And this only from the Lord.

While this may sound like I’m tooting my own horn, it is actually a once in a lifetime weekend that occurred almost 25 years ago!

Yet I don’t want it to be once in a lifetime. I want to live like this.

How about you?

Do you remember Grandma Marguerite?

Something she used to tell me is, “He’s given you today.”

So today, remember:

This day,

This moment,

This person,

Is a Gift.

Freely given.
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Never guaranteed.
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Don’t wish it away.

You don’t get it back.

There is a lasting joy in presence.

Be present today.

How do you help yourself be present in the moment? 

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All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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