- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Quote:
At some point, you just have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening. – Anonymous
I love this, because you can live fully in what is happening and still work to change what you can, where you can. In Buddhist terms, it is called being fully present – not wallowing in the past and not obsessing about the future. One can be aware of both past and future, and use that awareness to guide the present, but, in the end, now is all that is real and true for each individual.
I love the concepts I learned in my youth that all is present unto God and that time is measured only unto mankind. A huge part of my peace has come through allowing myself to live in what is happening, not in the future or the past.
I wouldn’t hestiate to read this book below: I found it very revelatory about the need to live IN THE PRESENT. We spend so much time depressed about the past, or anxious about the future. What matters is the challenges we face today. And most of the time, we live in some sort of relative comfort. Our physical needs met, the ability to make our own choices, etcetera, no pressing emergency upon as at the given moment. Sure, there are times when we suffer in the now, but if we can strip away angst from the past and future, we have a much happier life overall. Because really, isn’t life simply the accumulation of NOW moments?
I know life is often about holding competing ideas simultaneously, but where does judgment, heaven/not heaven, and all the “answering for” fit into this? I imagine that 99% of the people leaving the church have decided to live in the present because the fear of the future is gone, and working to change what they can about the church doesn’t rank high anymore. I’m not saying it’s good to abandon institutions. We’re probably losing more than we realize when we do. But living in the present is the hinge that swings the door both ways for me. Yes, it swings both ways. That is one reason why I beleive in it so strongly: It isn’t a simple default that is easy. It is focused on each individual’s personal situation, without an easy, one-answer-fits-all, black-and-white, universal answer.
Ann wrote:I imagine that 99% of the people leaving the church have decided to live in the present because the fear of the future is gone, and working to change what they can about the church doesn’t rank high anymore. I’m not saying it’s good to abandon institutions. We’re probably losing more than we realize when we do. But living in the present is the hinge that swings the door both ways for me.
Very good point.I also think that focusing on the present is a good reminder for me to adjust back to balance and wisdom…when too much fear of the future just brings stress and pressure.
Of course, just focusing on today and not thought of tomorrow can be short-sided to prepare properly (do I spend all my paycheck today?).
So…there is wisdom in applying these things. Part of being present is making the right choices today so tomorrow takes care of itself (like saving, or like sacrificing for future blessings). Even fear of the future and stress can be a good thing because it reminds me of what I need to do today.
But all actions are done today. That is the focus of being present, the power of now.
As with all things, there is learning and constant adjustments on how to do it properly and find that inner peace.
From my personal experience, I would say that trying to be “exact in all things” within mormonism was leaving me unbalanced with too much fear of the future, too much guilt of the past. There just needed some readjustment in my application of gospel principles so I was happy and cheerful, but not lazy in my worship. It is a church of love, not a church of fear.
I agree with Ann. One thing I can clearly say is that my fear of the “judgement bar” is probably about 90% reduced. I am more worried about helping others in pain than getting some eternal improved ranking for helping someone. I just don’t fear God like I used to. I also get what Heber is saying. Me doing whatever the hell I want to do does not make the world a better place for my grandkids.
When we talk about living in the present, I don’t think we are saying we stop thinking about/planning for the future, or the past. But we don’t let the uncertainties of the future get us down now. We plan for the future, and we make decisions now that we think will help us prepare for the future. When worry about the future tries to captivate our emotions, or we feel angst about the past, we think about the task in front of us. We reflect on the fact that we a) still have a job b) are relatively comfortable physically, or at least, coping with the discomfort and c) only really have to worry about getting through the next few hours until we go to bed and rest. In fact all we have to be concerned about what is in front of this moment. How can we tackle what is in front of us to create the best future within our power? It’s the Savior’s admonition to not worry about the future — there is sufficient to keep us busy today.
This is why I like the prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi: Lord, make me an instrument* of thy peace!
That where there is hatred, I may bring love.
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony.
That where there is error, I may bring truth.
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.
That where there is despair, I may bring hope.
That where there are shadows, I may bring light.
That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort,than to be comforted.
To understand, than to be understood.
To love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
And: the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
ps. It can be difficult to do, but not impossible.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.