Chasing What is Present

 

Chasing What is Present

I am sure many of you can recall looking for something you already had. I can remember Nana, with glasses on top of her head, questioning, “Has anyone seen my glasses?” Of course, as kids we let her keep looking!

And at times, I have found myself wondering where my phone was—while I was actually on my phone!

It is frustrating to look for something we already have, and equally frustrating to try to get to a place where we already are. For example, desiring to be home when you already are. Imagine such an experience.

I have found that this often applies spiritually. It seems we are always trying to get ‘somewhere.’ When we acknowledge the truth of God’s Word, a promise in Scripture, or hear a sermon that we wholeheartedly agree with, we respond with phrases like:

– “I have to…”

– “If only I would…”

– “I should…”

– “One day I hope…”

– “When I…”

These expressions represent a longing to experience something we already believe in. They are future-focused. They look ahead to getting started and often serve as either excuses to delay or deceptions that keep us at arm’s length—like a carrot on a stick we never quite reach.

Last weekend, I watched the Kentucky Derby. One of the iconic moments is when someone announces, “Riders up!” and the jockeys mount their horses and head to the starting gate. Imagine if they all reached the gate and never ran?

 

Or think about the upcoming Indianapolis 500. At this event, the familiar, “Gentlepersons, start your engines!” is announced. Imagine if they never stepped on the gas?

In both examples, the starting point has been reached. They are ready to go.

And so are we.

We don’t need to get to the starting gate. We are already there, and everything is set for us to “run in such a way as to win.”

This isn’t the pre-race for the main event. Many of us have already spent too much time in the rat race of a fallen, hopeless world—a race where everyone loses. The main event is the Kingdom Derby: a life lived in pursuit of God. And everything is in place for us to win.

Running a good spiritual race and winning in the spiritual realm can be as simple as changing our mindset from “I have to…” or “When I…” or “If I…” to:

“I am.”

When? Right now. 

We only live in the Now — right now.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Psalms 95:6-8

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation [or our life’s end] is nearer to us now than when we first believed [or heard]. Romans 13:11-12

The race is now, not later.

Right now, Truth, as always, is true.

Right now, He is present—right here, where you are.

Right now, God’s words and promises are true and ready to be lived.

Right now, He is unchanging. He is who He is.

Right now, He is loving without condition—perfectly.

Right now, He is faithful—independent of us, yet inclusive of us and our (mis)behaviors.

Right now, He is working—not some things, but all things—for good for those who love Him.

Right now, He understands and cares about what we are thinking and feeling.

Right now, as a perfect Father, He is attentive to our cries and faithful to our trust.

Right now, He knows exactly who we are and desires to make us more like Jesus.

Right now, He is directing our steps as we acknowledge and respond to Him.

Right now, He is protecting us along the way.

Right now, He is leading us into “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.”

—

“Is it necessary, then, to be always on the road when one has already arrived at the goal?”

Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

“Once you realize that the road is the goal and that you are always on the road—not to reach a goal, but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom—life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple.” Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

—

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.

The time is now.

We have a glorious opportunity to live, this side of Heaven, in intimacy with the One who is awaiting us on the other side—forevermore.

We have all we need, right now. The ride may be bumpy, but it is assured. Because right now, we are His children—His responsibility. And He desires to carry us on His back for all our remaining days.

This is not make-believe or just positive thinking. Living with the Author of Life is a great adventure.

We must go, to know.

Let’s go!