Oct 13, 2006 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2006. All rights reserved.
Sometimes I think about how much time I’ve wasted worrying about not having enough time. It’s a vicious circle. I get nothing done because I’m too busy fretting about not having enough time to accomplish what I want to do.
So I stress over impossible deadlines on a project I’m working on. I worry that a remodeling project won’t get completed before Christmas. I feel overwhelmed with so many responsibilities that I don’t go visit my mom or my brother or call a friend. And the list could go on.
Recently I got some new insights into how to win the battle with time—or lack of it—from “Now and Then,” an article written by Mary Baker Eddy that was published in 1903 (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 12-14).
Here are a few ideas that inspired me:
“We own no past, no future, we possess only now.”
“If the reliable now is carelessly lost in speaking or in acting, it comes not back again.”
“Faith in divine Love supplies the ever-present help and now, and gives the power to ‘act in the living present.’”
“Now is the accepted time.”
The Apostle Paul also spoke of “now” in regard to time. He said, “Behold, now is the accepted time….” One definition for “accepted” is “preferred.” So now, not later, is the preferred time.
I think focusing on now, from a spiritual standpoint of our relation to God, can show me how to win the time-crunch war.
My step dad, who introduced me and my mom to Christian Science, began every day thinking about these words by Mary Baker Eddy: “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.” Those words were part of his morning prayer, which he often shared aloud as he drove me to school.
The solution to enjoying blessings in the now surely is found in God, the sustaining infinite. Divine Love, or God, is here with us right now to help us with our every need. Love helps us shape our right desires into present actions.
We don’t need more time—just right now.
When we let Love lead the way, we find that we don’t actually need more time. We just need right now. Now is the only place that moments can be lived. In another article, “Improve Your Time,” Mrs. Eddy wrote, “All successful individuals have become such by hard work; by improving moments before they pass into hours …” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 230).
What’s most important is how we act, speak, what we do right now. If our moments are God-directed, we can’t go wrong. By trusting God’s guidance, we’ll always have present possibilities for memorable moments—no matter where we are.
Jan 12, 2004 |
by Annette Bridges
Made New Year resolutions you hope to accomplish? Goals you want to meet before another year passes? Starting instead with the present moment may set you on a path to reach your aspirations.
I think I’ve spent most of my life looking to the future to provide answers, opportunities, realized dreams. But no longer. Today, I have a new approach to how I want to live my life. It’s one that begins with moments, improves moments, and considers present possibilities – right now. I no longer want to put off for tomorrow what could be done today, said today, experienced today.
Mary Baker Eddy, author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, has provided some instructive and helpful ideas on living in the present. There are two paragraphs taken from different articles she wrote that I have found especially helpful.
The first is from an article entitled “Improve Your Time:”
“Success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing. A great amount of time is consumed in talking nothing, doing nothing, and indecision as to what one should do. If one would be successful in the future, let him make the most of the present.” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883 – 1896)
The second is from “Now and Then:”
“This was an emphatic rule of St. Paul: “Behold, now is the accepted time.” A lost opportunity is the greatest of losses. Whittier mourned it as what “might have been.” We own no past, future, we possess only now. If the reliable now is carelessly lost in speaking or in acting, it comes not back again. Whatever needs to be done which cannot be done now, God prepares the way for doing; while that which can be done now, but is not, increases our indebtedness to God. Faith in divine Love supplies the ever-present help and now, and gives the power to “act in the living present.”” (Christian Science Sentinel May Vol.5)
So, I’m making now the focus of my life and here are a few of the ways it’s working:
- Unhappy with my current old home, unable to build a new house right now, I’ve begun improvements to make my home the best it can be. I’ve found present possibilities that showed me I don’t have to wait to build a new house to be happy where I live.
- I’m using money more productively today and finding ways to benefit others with it, too, rather than allowing thoughts of retirement, savings and children’s inheritance to dominate my life.
- Instead of constantly trying to loose pounds, now each day I’m focusing on achieving the balance and physical activity needed in my life.
- I’m taking time to read.
- I’m allowing time for reflection and meditation.
- I’m not missing opportunities to tell someone I love them.
- I’m listening attentively when a friend calls.
- And I’m taking breaks during the day to play with my puppy.
Living in the present has made me realize how many things I put off to do tomorrow which were never done. We own the now, this very moment. I don’t want to miss a moment of my life worrying about tomorrow. I think happiness is only found in the present moment and not in an uncertain future defined by possessions longed for or goals not yet reached. Making the decision to live my life in the now is already bringing contentment and peace of mind I never had before.
Originally published in January 2004. ©Annette Bridges. All rights reserved.
