Living in the Moment

Photos by Linda McCloud+

Sunset at Mexico Beach, Florida - December 2005

Trumpet vines and white azaleas -
Honey Creek 2007















Miss Angel Cat misbehaving
October 2006









Miss Angel Cat living up to her name.
October 2006.





There is a difference between living in the moment and living in anticipation of a moment. If we live for a certain moment to arrive we hold our breath and let a lot of other moments pass us by. If we have an important appointment our entire day might revolve around preparing for that event. Eyes on the prize, we miss the road beneath our feet.

If we live in the moment we might actually notice how good that granola bar tasted -- the one we called breakfast. If we live in the moment we might stop and stare at a sunrise or sunset, or at a butterfly on a flower.

With today's overloaded schedules it is difficult to be present to our surroundings and to the people with whom we work or live. Spiritual writers have long tried to get us to pay closer attention to the details that make up our day.

One such person was Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751). He taught that living in the present moment brings us closer to God. Here's a brief quote from Abandonment to Divine Providence (New York: Doubleday, 1975)

"Our only satisfaction must be to live in the present moment as if there were nothing to expect beyond it."

So -- did he have nothing else to do but pray? Far from it. Caussade loved his solitude, but he was also a teacher, priest, writer, spiritual director, and a sometime diplomat. But he had discovered a secret to happiness. The destination might be glorious, but the joy is in the journey.

How would life change for you if you began living in the present moment?




Pastor Linda
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org