Posts Tagged: an uncertain future
“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!
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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