I snapped a pic the other day of the clock I have in the confessional. I couldn’t help myself. It read 1:23 pm on 12/31/23... Do you notice the repetition? 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3. How unique it that? That combination of numbers won’t happen again for 100 years!
Honestly, I was a bit of a spiritual moment for me. It made me stop an realize, not only the uniqueness of that unrepeatable moment, but the unrepeatability of every moment. Time, like a river, is passing; every moment never to be repeated again. Once a river passes, that water will never go backwards. In the same way, once a moment passes, it will never be repeated.
Why was this a spiritual moment for me? Because it reminded me to appreciate the “NOW”.
I so often get lost in stress and anxiety that either I: one - miss the value of the current moment, or, two - I’m so frantically ‘future-forecasting’ that I don’t even notice the joy of the present. Joker could ask of me what he asked of Batman, “Why so serious?” Sometimes I am disappointed in myself because everything seems to be a such flutter of activity and concern that I am unable to appreciate the NOW.
My point is this: There is no gratitude without recognizing the preciousness of the current moment. There is no peace in being so focused on the uncertain future that we don’t notice the immanently certain present moment.
My mind is filled with Scripture passages:
“Now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (1 Cor 6:1).
“If today you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.” (Heb 3:15).
“Do not worry about tomorrow, enough for one day is its own evil... Therefore do not be concerned about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be concerned for its own self.” (Matt 6:34).
“Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever.” (Heb 13:8).
So in the end, I offer you this: Appreciate the present moment... it’s unrepeatable.
Father Jarrod Lies, Pastor