Now

In June of 2005 I was at the Cenacle Retreat Center in Naperville, IL for an Intensive Journal workshop. During one of the breaks, I wandered through the center's bookstore. I saw a sign on the wall, written in flowing letters against a colorful pastel background. It said, "You are here now. Now is all you have."

What sounds like statements of obvious fact yield much to contemplate. The two statements are true in the purest sense, but not because each moment of your life has never occurred before, nor will never be repeated, though quite true.

The significance of each singular "now" moment emerges through the possibilities made available as the two--moment and possibility--tumble in tandem from one to the next.

Even the possibilities, like the moments from which they sprout, may not have occurred before, and may not be offered again.

What does this "now" moment offer you? What do you need from it, really need? What can you offer to this moment? What does this moment want from you? The answers can be complex, multi-faceted, having profound implications for your next moment, and all the moments thereafter. You may not even know that. The least you can do is be conscious of it. Practice staying conscious of it. See what happens.