“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
This morning I found myself thinking about presence – presence of mind, presence of body, and presence of spirit – during my morning lift. After a few half-hearted reps interspersed with many early-morning yawns, I paused to consider what a repetition would look like if I were fully focused, fully present. Mustering whatever strength I had left, I drove through my heels and found a new burst of energy as I snatched the bar. The concept of presence still plagued my mind after I left the gym. What would our lives look like if we lived fully present, bringing our whole selves – mind, body, and spirit – to our daily work? Living mindfully is difficult. When life demands immediate responses to communication, that we think 8 steps ahead, and that we be in three places at once, pausing and intentionally engaging Creation is a luxury we oft forego. Yet, when we are present and bring our whole selves to life, the world becomes brighter for ourselves and for others. God, in fact, desires that we be fully present. We glorify God by bringing our whole selves to life because we – in our entirety – were made in the Creator’s image, just as we are meant to be. For Christians, as we enter into the season of Advent, the period of the church calendar characterized by expectant waiting for the first coming of Christ, we should all consider what it means to live fully present and alert. This message however, is not just for Christians. We as interconnected humans have a responsibility to one another to brighten our world. So, what would the world look like if we all lived mindfully? Would we be more courteous and respectful of one another? Would we be able to overcome tension and division? Would we be stronger – mentally, physically, and spiritually – thereby strengthening others? Next time we find ourselves overwhelmed, tired, or weak, let us pause for a minute to check how present we really are, because, in that presence, we may just find peace. |