There is Only Now

There is Only Now The lyrics from a 1970’s rock song goes, “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.” This line reminds me of the dilemma that I face, like most people who want to enjoy the joys of life. I often find myself thinking about and identifying with the future and ironically want the events of my life to move along and hurry up (“slippin’ into the future”). I imagine something I cannot truly know and cling to this imaginary future state with a sense of I, placing my identity in the future. As a result, I sadly miss large chunks of my life. I miss one moment after another to be present, and carelessly imagine my life away into the future. To escape time, my Teacher recommends “being out of time.” When I am present, time basically stops and there is neither future nor past. Only now. I am. I am just here without temporal projections or future distractions, good or bad. The Teacher also suggests making the choice to be present on your journey and not just your destination. When you are present, time ceases to exist. No worries, no expectations. There is only now, Divine Presence. Free yourself from the future phantom, the thief from the future who steals your presence. As an exercise, try to catch every instance of imagining or identifying with your future events for the next day or two. Let us know if this exercise generates any questions for you. Song of the Lark, Jules Breton

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