I wrote back in October about my attempt to fully experience the experience of singing in the fall concert of the Cherry Creek Chorale, how I made a little pact that I would keep reminding myself about the present moment, and how greatly I enjoyed that Saturday night experience. (Hey, guess what? We have another performance this week! And it’s going to be great! Follow the link to buy your tickets.)
Anyway, this past Sunday morning I was downstairs having my devotional time when I realized that I was fast-forwarding through the rest of my day:
First there was going to be a wonderful church service, then we were all driving out to my brother’s house for a lunch with my niece from Spokane, then I was going to dash all the way across town for a concert, then I’d end up back at home and would have the evening at home. So as I sat there I was thinking about how nice that evening would be. Then I realized, hey, I’m skipping over the whole day in my thinking. There’s a whole long day ahead of me, with lots of great stuff going on. I need to focus on what’s going on right now and try to move through each moment consciously. (No one ever does that, but you can try.)
So I have some great memories of Sunday. But as I sit here typing I’m realizing that I have no clear memories of Monday. What did I do that day? It was a stay-home-and-work day, and I did get quite a bit done, but who knows what it was? And of course if I keep remembering all these past events I’m right back at failing to stay in the present. But I’m seeing more and more that it’s a useful and helpful exercise to keep saying to myself periodically, “Pay attention to this moment.”
I think I’ve quoted this before, and Our Town isn’t by any means my favorite play, but Emily’s question of the Stage Manager seems appropriate here:
“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it–every, every minute?”
To which the Stage Manager replies,
“The saints and poets maybe, they do some.”