Now what?

The opening is at the end. 

It’s early, be kind. 

Have a great moment. 

“It’s at the end of ourselves that new futures open up.” I was reading Rob Bell’s Everything is Spiritual. He was telling stories about things falling apart and about times when our strength isn’t enough and about stretches when our cleverness fails us. Then he offered a compelling prayer to pray in those moments. Here’s the whole prayer: Now what?  I LOVE that! This humble coming to the end our ourselves, recognizing our limitations, and opening ourselves up to possibility.  

The future is a funny thing. It’s always and never here. We look ahead and live here. We are always “early” in our adventures. In The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle was telling the story of two violin students a master coach was teaching. Daniel watched this teacher working with a student who was years into his practice. This student was followed by a near beginning, fumbling with the basics of basics. Daniel said that after these lessons, he asked the master coach who had more potential. He answered, “It’s early. They are both growing.”

Teachers apply their vast knowledge to patiently nurture their students’ growth. It’s not the lessons or the practice that matters. It’s the commitment to the moment, over and over again. We all are at our best when we come to the end of ourselves and open ourselves up to the great mystery that ALWAYS waits for us in the next moment. In the future. And it’s always early, so it does our spirit well to be patient with ourselves and with others. To be kind to ourselves and to others, especially when we recognize that we are only at the beginning. Right now, in this moment. 

This day is a remarkable gift, broken down into countless remarkable moments waiting to be discovered. In each new moment, I challenge you, and I challenge myself, to say this prayer. Now what? A simple prayer that opens us up for the mystery of the next moment. The future moment waiting to reveal itself to us. The moment that is in wait to surprise and delight us, leaving us in wonder and awe. So today, I do wish you a good day. But start right now. Always asking and praying the “now what” prayer. And may that moment be followed by a great moment.    

Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash