Lost and Found

Pleasant vs beneficial. 

I am a student, not a scholar. 

Recognizing, responding, and receiving. 

All day long, we have a choice. Should we do what is pleasant or what is beneficial? Choosing what is pleasant is the easy choice that leads to short-term satisfaction. Choosing what is beneficial is challenging, because it requires work and effort, but the benefits last.  

Over these past few months, I’ve been reflecting on my past several journals. Each day, I’ve been looking back, noticing, and journaling. Seeking wisdom from my experiences that I can use to benefit me in the long-term. I am fully aware of my student status. I know I am no scholar. But I hope to find wisdom in my life experiences that I can use along with scripture and my faith tradition to help guide me in my daily living. I don’t need to reach scholar status. I am at peace with always arriving, ready to reflect, ready to learn, and ready to practice. 

Yesterday, I recognized the opportunity to put my study into practice. I made plans to spend the evening reading and writing. I had already reached my daily goals, but I thought I could squeeze in another session. Then, my plans were “disrupted.”  

I was sitting on the porch ready to dig in, and Jill came out and sat down with me. Without thinking, I closed my book and laid down my pen and notebook. I recognized this moment and responded with full presence. No computer, no phone, no pen, no paper, and no book. Just the two of us. Talking and being present together.  

It would have been pleasant to sit there, chat, and continue to split my attention, but it was much more beneficial to focus my attention on our time together. Yesterday, I wrote about losing myself in the moment and about surrendering to the moment. When I recognized this moment to connect, I responded by letting of what I thought I was going to be doing and embraced this gift given to me. I received a treasure as I embraced those moments together.  

This is what it means to live well. To love and connect with God, with others, and with this world around me. To be a good steward of my time and student of living life well, recognizing the beneficial, responding wisely, and receiving the gifts of those small, powerful moments. May I continue to find myself “lost” in those moments of presence often.