Voice of the Spirit

 What is now?  Is it simply the day we’re living in – as in today is Mondaythe 10th of August 2009?  We chronicle all the events of the physical world through times and dates that happen in successive moments that pass.  One may say, “Today I got up late at 7:00 but still made it to work on time by 8:30.”  Once it’s 8:30, we can’t go back and change what we did at 7:00.  That moment, in time, is already done and over with.  This indicates to us a sense of progression in our daily lives – as a story from point A to point B and so on.  It can be very much like watching a movie.

Regarding time in the physical world, let’s consider the following proposition: Person A sets their watch to 10 years into the future, while person B adjusts their watch to 5 years ago in the past while both of them still try to live a normal life today.  Now if we considered this as an experiment to do, what would most people say regarding our little proposition?  They would of course, laugh and say, “Adjust your watches to today’s date and time.”  So in the physical sense of time, all of us would agree that we should have all of our clocks and watches set to the this current moment.

In addition to time in the physical world, there is also the sense of time within us.  How do we relate to the past, present and future internally?  What time and date do we live in inside ourselves?  Certainly, most of us function in the current day we’re physically in: going to work, making dinner, going to bed etc.  However, are we living in the present tense within, or are we internally living in the past, or perhaps the future?  It may be hard to gage as to whether we are centered in today, the past or possibly tomorrow, and if so, to what degree, as there is not a easily tangible watch to determine this, or a clock on the wall to look at which would provide a clear and decisive answer.

For example, when we wake up in the morning on a sunny day where nothing extreme is going on in our lives, what and how do we feel?  For those of us who are living in the pain and hurt of the past, the day will appear heavy, not pleasant, troublesome or labor some to a certain degree without any apparent external reason.  Why?  Because living in the negativity of the past weighs us down, saps out vitality and makes today appear less promising.  Whatever the issues are: a childhood trauma where peace has yet to occur, a tragic death of a loved one that is still haunting us, a relationship that has failed where no one better has yet replaced them, or any number of disappointments, the hurt of the past takes away the natural joy of all that this very day has to offer us.  It’s as if the misery of what happened before smudges our glasses with dirt and mud; what we see then is not at all clear.

A common example of living in the past occurs when we have been wounded before in love and we now meet someone who is really attracted to us on a healthy and legitimate level.  They do everything right, but we mistrust them and project them as someone who is bad — just like the others we have been with before where things didn’t turn out right.  Since we have been hurt before, the pain of the past comes up to haunt us and potentially ruin what is right here in front of us.  The panic feels real!  The suffering happened – it’s not made up; so therefore, it must be occurring again… This is what our fears misconstrue and muster up.

If the pain of the past eclipses openness to this new relationship, the potential union will most certainly fail.  And it is hard to let go of this baggage while trying to give someone a chance.  We should have come to peace with the negativity of what happened in the past in prior negative relationships before getting involved with someone.  It’s similar to attempting to lose weight while you’re competing for an athletic trophy.  The baggage should have been shed before the competition.  Here we see how the past can really derail our efforts and short-circuit our blessings of today.

For those of us who are living in the future, it’s as if today doesn’t really exist.  Whatever is present in the moment: the sun, birds, or fresh air is dismissed or disregarded, all to be able to escape into an internal world of fantasy, where at some yet to be determined point in the future, things will be great!  Living in the future separates us from the wonderful now that is right in front of us and leaves us in a state of fuzzy, warm and glowing projections in our own mind that have yet to occur.  “When I finally meet HIM, I’m going to be happy,” a woman says.  “When I get that new fantastic job I’ve been waiting for, then I can finally feel good,” a man states.  However, these things have yet to occur and should not be dwelled upon.  In reality, all we have is today, so all we should focus on is the now.

Living in the future may appear to be a better option than living in the past, but it really isn’t.  The future falsely takes us away from what we need to do and how we need to be present in the here and now.  It’s as if we’re Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz – there is a brighter future out there… somewhere… over the rainbow…I’ll keep dreaming…But there’s one huge problem with this.  The future, like the past, does not exist.

Even in the Wizard of Oz, it all turns out to be not real by the end of the film.  The rainbow and dreams Dorothy was searching for are not there; or somewhere far off in the distance.  Her dreams are right here!  It scatters our energies to dwell in the illusive future and through this dissipating of energy, we prevent our blessings from coming to us today.  Living in the future is like taking all of your money and just dreamily throwing it to the heavens.  The money would scatter to the four winds and be all gone.

It is worth noting that there is a difference between living in the future and planning for the future.  Obviously, emotionally living for tomorrow is not good for us and can be illustrated by the following point.  If someone said, “My future is going to be great because I’m going to win the lottery and be rich tomorrow,” that would be living in the future in a non beneficial way.  On the other hand, planning for the future is a completely different matter and something we should do.  Here is an example of someone who is living for today while planning for the future:  “I do my best day by day and I save $100.00 every month to plan for the future.”  Obviously, we all have to make choices that set up the best possible tomorrow, all the while being aware that what we choose to do today does indeed set up tomorrow. 

Perhaps the great spiritual teacher Florence Shinn said it best when she offered her metaphysical interpretation of living in the past and in the future.  She stated that the two robbers who were on each side of Jesus when he was being crucified: one on the right side and the other on left side weren’t merely common criminals.  They were robbers of something much more profound – one robber who she called “the past,” stole the gift of today by keeping us stuck in the past.  The other robber, referred to as “the future,” also took the gift of today away from us by keeping us lost in the future.

Above, we have been taking a look at various examples of how people live in the past or the future.  Keep in mind that can only be done within, not in the external world.  It’s not as if you could physically be in kindergarten again.  So regarding the past and the future, do they actually exist at all?  Time as we know it in the physical world has been long proven an illusion by physics.  So as we watch the clock, moment-by-moment, time is only an illusion to document and chronicle all that happens here on earth in a way that makes sense to us in our current human form.  Outside of the physical world, time is non-existent, therefore, there really is no past or future.

The now we have a hard time with is the internal now.  With that in mind, how could it possibly make any sense at all for any of us to live for yesterday or tomorrow within?  As it disconnects us from today, which is all there is, our goal then should always be to eternally live in the moment.  However, how do we achieve this, especially when we’ve been scarred by the past, or feel the need to escape our current unhappy circumstances by projecting into a potentially better future?

Let’s first take a look at how to let go of living in the past. To no longer stay stuck in the past, it is really about your attitude and intent.  Ask yourself what you really want to do with the pain, hurt and disappointment of yesterday.  Are you holding on to it all?  Do you identify with the pain of the past?  Is it a friend and comfortable in some way?  Is living in the misery of yesterday easier then letting it all go and risking what is familiar to try to live for today?

If so, that needs to change.  If you really and truly want to let the negativity of the past go, you can and will.  Your desire is what is most important.  Ninety percent of the battle is having a true, passionate desire to release it and let it all go.  When your commitment is rock solid, God will provide you with all of the tools that are necessary every step of the way:  whether a therapist, a psychic, a friend, a book, or whatever.  If there are struggles, that’s OK.  What counts is which one is the winner: either staying stuck in the past or living for today.  If you can’t get out of the past on a given day, affirm out loud:  I am at peace with my past and I now celebrate living happily and joyously in the wonderful now!”  Do not give up!

Regarding living in the future, the problem is not as apparent as living in the past.  Why?  Because one could argue that we have to set goals and project what we want for our lives down the road.  So in that sense, one could easily live for tomorrow, where living for yesterday clearly provides no new opportunities.  Even if you have future goals, though, don’t emotionally live for the victory of tomorrow.  Don’t sit back and proclaim, “When I have a lot of money, then I’ll be happy.”  Do what you can do today and live for this moment as you help to create the life you desire.  I’ve seen many people disconnect from the day they’re in by dreaming of a non-existent future.  So much energy is wasted that way.  Do what you can do now, which sets up the future in a positive way but again, don’t escape today by living in tomorrow.

Here are some easy and powerful tools to live in this moment:  Look all around you and be grateful!  Bless the past, let go of the hurts from before and release it to divine love from deep within with all of your strength.  It isn’t rocket science.  It’s easier than you think.  By letting it all go to divine love where all conditions are permanently perfect, it is over with!  You are free – and you are at peace.  It isn’t so important what actually happened physically back then – it is how it is still affecting you!  By letting go, it no longer has power over you!  You can be happy in this moment!

Dwelling on the future is living for what has yet to actually happen and disconnects you from the glorious moment of this very day!  The future doesn’t exist — it has yet to occur, therefore, it shouldn’t be used as a vehicle to escape or run away from being present in this moment!  To live right here, right now takes consistent effort, but it must be done.

Living in the moment – this very moment is one of the most profound things any of us can do.  Why?  Because by living in this moment, we erase all of the sorrow of the past, we stop scattering our energies by focusing on the future – we are right here, right now!

Being in this very moment internally, not just merely externally is what we need to do – and be.  Most of us are living in the physical moment – living out the activities of our lives. It is that mundane sense of now that most of us understand and live in.  However, it is the internal state of now that very few of us really understand or master but as we grow spiritually, it is mandatory to do so, not just a pipe dream of feel good spiritual talk.  Getting it mentally does little or nothing to keep us in this moment.  It must gotten in the gut – where real change occurs, down to the core of our inner being.   Without now, we have nothing.  It would be like trying to drive a car blindfold.  The past and the future blind us, yet we still keep driving that car – until it crashes.

Watch your thoughts, words, actions and choices daily!  When drifting into the future as an escape, bring yourself back to the present!  Don’t dwell on things that are yet to be!  Don’t escape today by trying to fantasize tomorrow.  Whatever is in front of you, make the most of it!  If you’re feeling like you need to run away from life through the future, bring yourself right back to reality through doing something loving for someone else.  This helps you to get out of yourself and keeps you prospering in the present.  In any instance when you’re helping someone, you’ve just hit the jackpot.

Through living in the “Now,” this most important three-letter word, we also connect with another most vital and eternal three-letter word – as “God” reflects eternity and all that is in this glorious moment for our highest good and the greater good of all, we connect to eternity and forever through living right here, right now – with Now and God being one and the same, divine love envelops and nurtures us through our eyes that look at everything as if we’re seeing it for the first time — by no longer stepping outside of reality into the past or the future – but by living as God created us to live – right there, right now.

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