Tag Archives: Present Moment

The Two Awful Eternities

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On a daily basis, I review a “Thought,” “Meditation,” and “Prayer” for the day provided in a  small book entitled 24 Hours A Day (Daily Readings for Alcoholics.  Available on Amazon and other book stores.) In my course, Living @5, I review The Meditations for July 29, 30, and 31st as support to the Living @5 Model. This model is provided by a simple photo I took yesterday of  my whiteboard presentation.  Spend a moment thinking about this simple concept.  I offer them to you with love.

 July 29:  There are two days in every week about which we should not worry; two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.  All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.  We cannot undo a single act we performed: we cannot erase a single word said–Yesterday is Gone! 

July 30:  The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible burdens, its large promise and poor performance.  Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.  Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds–but it will rise.  Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn . 

July 31:  This leaves only one day–Today! Any man or woman can fight the battle of just one day.  It is only when you and I have the burdens in those two awful eternities’–Yesterday and Tomorrow–that we break down. It is not the experience of Today that drives men and women mad–it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. Let us, therefore, live but One Day At A Time. [24 Hours A Day.  Meditations For the Day:  July 29, 30th and 31st.] 

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(ps. My sweet wife Vickie Lee provided the sketches of the 3 sets of eyes in the photo.)

Namaste, Phil

The Sparrow and the Red Car

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A few days back, I was sitting in my car in the County Jail parking lot – no not because I am a resident  – but because I teach inmates most afternoons.  So, I am sitting there next to this incredibly beautiful, dark red, brand new Infinity automobile.  Have to admit I was violating my own teachings about joy in the Present Moment to  “wanting what we don’t have.”  Sure was a beautiful car, and my favorite color to boot.  Having left the Present Moment, for a moment, I was zooming down the highway in this wonderful car. It was a warm summer day, windows open, wind in my hair, etc., etc., etc.

So sitting in my not so new Hyundai, staring at this wonderful auto next to me, I was lost in some time I am sure didn’t exist. Suddenly, I was shocked back to reality, sanity, and what matters most.  From behind this incredible car’s front tire, out hopped a unusually small sparrow.  It perched on the edge of the curb with it tiny beak a fraction away from the front tire of the huge machine I had just been lusting after.

Then I came back to the Present Moment. It hit me with some force that the life within the sparrow, was life, eternal life, profound life. Compared to the dead machine, it was everything. How suddenly I loved this little bird.  I wanted to hold it, and pet, and tell it what a wonderful creature it was. But I wouldn’t touch it, nor ever see it again.  Yet with great force, this little God creation  reminded me, in the space of one of it’s heartbeats, what was important. I didn’t need anything more than I had in the Present Moment to be incredibly, wonderfully happy.