Posts Tagged: living in the moment
“Living in the moment or for the moment?”
Prepositions are little words that matter a lot.
For example, think of two statements that sound almost identical:
“I’m living in the moment.”
“I’m living for the moment.”
The same difference? I don’t think so!
Living in the moment is a good thing. In fact, when else can any of us really live? Living in the past is another word for nostalgia or regret. However, it can scarcely be said to be really living.
Living in the future is either fantasy or anxiety. Again, neither of these is truly living.
The present is where it is at. This does not apply only to an enjoyable present. Often, the present is not enjoyable. To pretend otherwise is not wise.
Still, to attempt to live somewhere other than where I am at any given moment is not simply unwise; it is impossible. Being at some time that isn’t present is like being some where you’re not.
So much for the important preposition “in!” What about “for?”
Living for the moment is another matter altogether.
This philosophy of life is encapsulated in a saying from the 1960s: “If it feels good, do it!” I heard a speaker once say, that whenever he saw that saying on a bumper sticker, he always wanted to rear-end the car. When the driver asked, “Why did you do that?!?” the speaker was going to say, “I just always thought it would feel good!” I am assuming that the speaker never followed through on this fantasy.
I have often tried this approach, and it has never worked out well for me. Perhaps this is not true of everyone, but for me, every time I’ve tried it, I have regretted it (or at least the outcome). I’ve said the first thing that came to mind, and lost a friend, or hurt my wife. I’ve eaten impulsively, and gained weight—as recently as yesterday! You get the picture.
Of course, this “live-for-the-moment” approach would work very well, if in fact what felt good for the moment was truly good. However, I do not think that feeling good can be identified with what is good. In fact, they are frequently (though not always) sworn enemies.
I’m sure that some of my readers are saying to themselves, “Well, the good sounds pretty dismal. I don’t think I’m interested.” So, let me come in with a good word for the truly good.
I believe that the truly good feels good in the long term. However, it simply does not feel good in the short term.
More about this in tomorrow’s post!
“LIVING FOR THE MOMENT OR IN THE MOMENT?
My daily affirmation for today is as follows: “Today, by the grace of God, I will focus on the good stuff about God, other people, the world, and myself.”
When I sent my sponsor this affirmation, he commented, “My attention for your affirmation is focus. To me it means living in the moment.”
I replied, “Dear ______,
That is a very good point.
Living only for the moment has gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past, and the results of such living persist to this day.
However, living in the moment is a very good thing.
Prepositions matter! (I think I feel a blog post coming on! Or, perhaps it’s just the flu.)”
Of course, I may be splitting grammatical/lexical hairs here. However, I don’t think so. Here is how I would differentiate between “living only for the moment” from “living in the moment.”
Living only for the moment is another way of speaking of “instant gratification.” And instant gratification doesn’t particularly gratify anyone in the long haul. This kind of “living in the moment” means manipulating other people and reality for my own short-term enjoyment. Such short-term enjoyment obviously feels good “in the moment.” If it did not, who would ever engage in it? However, the enjoyment is very short-lived.
But this form of living “for the moment” has huge long-term costs. It harms other people, and leaves an empty place in my own heart—an empty place that I try to fill by the very short-sighted, immediately gratifying attitudes and actions that created that empty place in the first place.
And voila! An addiction is born and nurtured!
Living in the moment creatively is another matter altogether. Living in the moment in this sense means experiencing the present in an open and caring manner. It means cherishing (or at least enduring) the moments as they unfold. It does not mean ripping present moments out of their larger context of relationships and future plans. Rather, this kind of holy “living in the moment” means enjoying the moments as the good gifts God has given to us.
So, for today, moment by moment, am I going to live only for the moment, or am I going to live in the moment?
And how about you?
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
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- “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 […]
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