It came to me in the oddest of places. I was scrunched over a dandelion weed and I think I just about solved all the world's problems. Okay, maybe not the whole world's, but mine. It was a beautiful day to be outside. I actually wanted to pull weeds. We were all outside doing our part to help make our outdoor space more inviting.
As I was maneuvering the trowel, I was thinking. I was thinking about what I had to do next. I was thinking about what I'd already done. Then it hit me, why aren't I thinking about what I'm doing exactly this minute? Why am I spending so much energy on the future and the past. Why can't I enjoy this exact moment?
Then it struck me....I'm coveting time. I believe coveting is the root of all problems. We want what we don't have right now. Isn't that the cause of discontentment? If I was fully living in the moment, unconcerned about what I had to do 5 minutes from now, wouldn't I be enjoying and seeing so much more life around me? Wouldn't I be living abundantly? Why is there that concern about what I have to do next? Why am I allowing that to steal the time I have at this exact moment?
What can I learn from the right now? Was I employing all my senses while pulling the weeds? Did I really smell the beauty of the rich, dark dirt beneath my fingers? Did a smile cross my face when I heard the sounds of children playing, laughing and talking in the background? Did I hear the intricate sound of birds chirping and leaves blowing in the breeze? Did I feel every ounce of warmth on my skin? Did my eyes behold the beauty of the earth? Did I take the time to thank God for each of these gifts? Did I take the time to listen to that 'still small voice' speak into my soul and fill me up?
As you can see, I think in questions.
I want to be ever aware of no longer coveting that which I don't have. Not only the things I'd like to own one day. But the time laid out before me. I'm not promised tomorrow. I'm only given the gift of today. I can't be disappointed in what doesn't happen in the future if I didn't covet that time today. I would be too busy living my life fully today to let worry or covetousness subtly steal the time away I have right now.
I hate to think of how many precious moments with loved ones I allowed to be ruined because I was too concerned about what I needed to do next. I might have missed a nuance in their actions, a look in their eyes or the tone of their voice because my mind wasn't focused only on them in that one and only beautiful moment.
I think I now truly understand Jim Eliot's quote:
Whatever you do, be all there.
