Drama (Part 4)

Ephesians 5:15-17 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

Drama begins when we seek to live in a fantasy world that chooses to ignore the power of the present. The gift of time is only important if we learn how to appreciate the memories we create today and everyday and remember what's really important in life. I believe that's why we must take the time and focus on what really matters today-our loved ones, friends, and the opportunities given us by God. to do so we must:

-Learn to be more human again. 

-Don’t avoid eye contact. 

-Don’t hide behind gadgets. 

-Smile often. 

-Ask about people’s stories. 

-Listen. 

-Remember, you can’t connect with anyone, including yourself, unless you are undistracted and present. 

If you are constantly attached to your smartphone and only listening with your ears as your eyes check for the next social update, you are ripping yourself off of actually experiencing real relationships and real life.  The same is true for texting too.  Yes, someday you will be slapped with the reality of a missed memory being far more unsettling than a missed text.

Too often we choose to distract ourselves with gadgets, news, videos and music just to stimulate ourselves.  It’s become like a second nature to us. We’re so used to feeling like the present moment isn’t worthy of our full presence and this mindset of dissatisfaction and distraction concerning reality never being enough for us trickles into every facet of our lives.

Chew on this for a moment:

-We are so continuously thinking about what’s to come, as if it’s not enough to appreciate what we have right now.

-We sit down to relax for a moment and then immediately feel the urge to read something on our phones, as if relaxing for a moment isn’t enough.

-We procrastinate when it’s time to work, choosing more distractions, as if the process of doing good work isn’t enough for us.

-We get annoyed with people when they fail to live up to our expectations, as if the reality of who they are isn’t enough for us.

-We resist changes in our lives, in our relationships, and in our careers, because the reality feels like it’s not enough.

-We reject situations, people, and even ourselves, because we feel like none of it is enough for us right now.

But....

-What if we accepted this moment, and everything and everyone in it (including ourselves), as exactly enough?

-What if we admitted that life is slipping away right now, and saw the fleeting time we have as enough, without needing to share it on social media or capture it or filter it in any way?

-What if we accepted the “bad” with the good, the letdowns with the lessons, the annoying with the beautiful, the anxiety with the opportunity, as part of a package deal that this moment alone is offering us?

-What if we paused right now, and saw everything with perfect clarity and no distractions?

Would we live more meaningful and memorable lives?Would we have more beautiful stories to cherish and share?

I think we would, so I think now is the best time to pay attention. Now is the best time to look around and be grateful for our health, our homes, our families, our friends, and our momentary opportunities. Nothing else will matter as much when we look back someday.