“NAKED TO THE NOW”
“Today, by God’s grace, I will choose to live in the NOW. I will enjoy the NOW as much as is possible, but endure whatever pain or discomfort there is in the NOW when necessary.” (My personal 12-step affirmation for July 1, 2017.)
“It [i.e., prayer] offers itself naked to the now . . . .” (Richard Rohr, meditation for June 30, 2017.)
I had crafted and sent my personal, 12-step affirmation to my sponsor before I read Rohr’s meditation for June 30. I was quite struck by his emphasis on “the now,” especially in light of my affirmation.
Being naked is not an easy thing to be. I have certainly never been comfortable being “naked to the now.” I remember being nostalgic when I was nine years old.
And of course, the future is a huge distraction. I used to wonder if I would be a success in the future? I have no clue about that. (On second thought, maybe I do have a clue: My wife said last night that she loved me more than ever. How can I possibly be anything but a success, when my lady says she loves me more than ever?)
We sometimes speak of someone “facing an uncertain future.” My question is, who doesn’t face an uncertain future?
But as painful as my own past choices and their consequences are, and as uncertain as the future is, I still try to avoid the now.
Why?
Perhaps I need to figure that out.
So, in the now, I am writing this post, sipping coffee that is swiftly getting cold, and watching the trees bending in occasional breezes. The sky looks like rain. My wife and I are going for a day trip, and I need to fix us some oatmeal. What’s wrong with any of that?
Dear readers, I hope you can either endure your now or enjoy it. I wish you an enjoyable and endurable NOW!
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