Day 41 - Living life in the moment

What do you see in this image?

The expectancy of a treat? Ready and poised living life in the moment.

Let me introduce Bobby - a lively, loving and exuberant 2-year-old blue Whippet belonging to my daughter Hannah. His sense of anticipation and complete trust at the prospect of the treat before him is palpable. Nothing else matters, what has gone before or what lies ahead in his ‘doggy’ day!

Personally, living life in the moment isn’t just about savouring an edible treat but the ability to take each day at a time and accepting the ups and downs in the knowledge that God knows, cares and will provide strength for today and tomorrow. As I write, I am currently isolating with Covid-19 having provided care for my elderly parents who were unwell with the virus. I did not anticipate any of this, just like Bobby is unaware of what will happen next but I have received the strength to live life in the moment, keep going when it was needed most. Enforced isolation now has enabled me to slow down and enjoy new ‘treats’ every day such as a spring flower opening up in the garden. It has given me time to reflect what has gone before and try not to worry (easier said than done!). Tomorrow is another day and in the words of the hymn, Great is thy faithfulness believe that we are given ‘strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow’ and in Jesus’ words from Mathew 6:25-34 -

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Heavenly Father, at the start of Holy Week, when we remember the days leading up to your death and glorious resurrection, help us to stop and connect with you. Enable us to take each day at a time and to embrace each day as a gift from you taking time to enjoy the here and now and your many blessings and not get distracted by the worries of tomorrow.

Amen

Cathryn Clarke