Now!

I've been trying to be more mindful - aware of and being really present each moment of my day. I've actually found it to be quite an effort because I've been realizing how much of the time I am doing one thing but thinking about the next task on the list instead of fully focusing on that thing I'm doing. The same is true of conversations. Instead of really listening to what is being said, many times I find myself busy formulating my response - before they've even finished their thought!

In making the effort to remain focused moment by moment a thought occurred to me. Faith is actually a kind of mindfulness. Think about it. Hebrews 11:1 tells us NOW faith is. Faith necessarily requires that we believe we receive what we ask for - now. Faith says: I have it NOW. Faith is present tense - not future and not past. God Himself says, I AM. Not I was or I will be. He is right here, right now. Time as we know it doesn't exist for Him. He sees the end from the beginning and calls us to do the same thing.

Now is all we really have. We can put something off into the future and say we'll do or have it "tomorrow." But there is no tomorrow because every day becomes today! There's certainly no harm in planning for the future, setting goals. Those are actually very good things that give our lives structure.

I just think rather than focusing my energies on why something failed (looking back) or constantly reaching for what may happen someday (looking ahead), I am better served by simply being fully present right here where I am, right now. Perhaps that's what "walking by faith" means. I don't have to "see" what I am believing for. I don't have to see the change. Before any perceptible change happens in the natural, physical world, I count it done and go on!

Now. That's faith.

Move in Your Moment!

I have a question for you - how are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions? By now, most people have totally given up on them. I've seen all the suggestions to set goals instead of making resolutions - make them specific - measurable - give them a time frame. Truthfully, while setting goals is definitely important and something I do, I don't think that's the answer in this case.

I think, with both resolutions and goals, we get excited and set these huge, extravagant goals. You know - lose 50 lbs by March, start a new business, begin making an extra $5,000 a month, find my soulmate. While I believe we should "think big" and set goals that stretch us - we forget that no one takes one big step and reaches their goal. The road to fulfilling any goal - whether it's improving health, finances or relationships - is paved with a series of well-thought-out, concrete, smaller steps.

I like to call them "baby steps." Not one of us begins to teach our child to walk and gets impatient and disgusted if they take one or two teetering little steps and then fall. No, we celebrate and cheer them on and when they take three little, tiny steps the next time - we are thrilled that they made progress! Why are we so hard on ourselves?

The Bible tells us in Zechariah 4:10 we are "not to despise the day of small beginnings." That's really good advice. In order to achieve any goal or fulfill any resolution, we have to schedule a series of baby steps. But that's just the beginning. Then we are to celebrate each time we make progress - no matter how small. This creates momentum. I heard one teacher describe momentum as "moving in your moment." I like that!

Every day we have 1,440 minutes to use. We all have the same amount of time. Each one of those minutes is yours to move in. You can move forward, backward or stand still. The choice is yours. To my way of thinking, even moving a half-step forward toward the fulfillment of your goal is preferable to either of the other two alternatives!

So, instead of punishing yourself for not making more progress - congratulate yourself on the forward movement you have made in your particular moment. Don't despise them if they are small. Instead of focusing so much on the size, focus on the direction.

Go back to your New Year's Resolutions or goals - it's not too late - really, it's almost never too late! Break them down into baby steps and see how much progress you have already made! Let me know so I can celebrate with you. This is your year to move in your moment!