Why Now?

Dear Why Team member,
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I hope this week's message finds you well and encouraged to finish 2019 strong.

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​Despite having 3 weeks left in the year, there's still more opportunity to mark 2019 as a successful year. Don't misuse thoughts like "it's the holiday mood" to take you off the task at hand; focus more than ever on the NOW, and it will serve you now and through the holidays.
Many years ago, I read a book titled "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. The book speaks to a profound truth that life can only be lived in the present moment. That which is real, is always right now. Everything else exists in the mind; past and future reflected on and created by the mind, and sometimes in conflict with the truth found in the now. This important awareness is not anything new and can be found in many spiritual teachings; such as the day has troubles enough of its own, worry not about tomorrow. This is not to preclude the importance of planning, but rather not to allow fears about tomorrow to limit the gifts given to us today. In times of heightened uncertainty, when so many things in our life seem to be going in directions we had not planned, it can be very unsettling. But most of that feeling of discomfort is mind generated into "shoulda, coulda, woulda" s and "what if" s and "if that, then maybe that" and "what will I do if that happens?" 

We just celebrated Thanksgiving, 
are you continuing to live out that gratitude NOW? Whatever the future holds, are you applying your best in the here and now?

I remember reading a story about a father who was comforting his child regarding the unknown future. He said to his child, "When we go to the airport to fly to another city, when does Dad give you your ticket?" The child said, "When I need it to board the flight." "Yes," the father responded, "and that is what will happen when you arrive at that unknown future, you will receive what you need then, not now." This faith in what is often referred to as grace, is sufficient if we can but lean into this belief and trust that we will receive what we need when we most need it, and not before we need it. As in, I will cross that bridge when I come to it, not now in my mind. 
 
So much of our pain is self-inflicted by our primordial minds that can believe the best course of action is not just to prepare, but to worry. Preparation is positive prudent action; worry is largely thought generated debilitation void of trust, faith, and confidence. To escape past and future-minded torture, return to the glorious present; the present that is a present to each of us, the present we often take for granted.

Consider the feeling we get when we are working out intensely or participating in a sport that takes all of our focus and attention. In those moments, we are free of past and future mindedness. There is peace in the moment, if we would but just stop and name that which is in our current environment. Run through all five of your senses and give them exercise in the here and now and see if that doesn't give you some freedom from any thought-generated regret or fear about the unknown future. Knowledge is helpful, but it is never enough alone to bring peace, because there is always the unknown, and by definition, it cannot be known. Yet in that place of the unknown is both the mystery and the beauty of life. How we face the unknown is our choice; with fear, dread, and paralyzingly anxiety or with faith, confidence, and the awareness that we will get what we need when we most need it. 

In the meantime, this day is the day in which we can rejoice. Today, has gifts enough to lift our spirit. Today, we breathe again and have opportunities to lift up and serve others that no doubt will do the same for us. 
 
Today, we can make the most of our life and not waste it worrying over that in which we have no control. Tolstoy said, "now is the only place in which we have any power." Be more present, and you will be more of what you and others need now. Make the best of this very moment, this given moment, and find that this behavior will do more to positively influence the future than any worry could accomplish.  
Leaders go first.  
Be present to the gift of NOW, and you'll be even more at peace and present for those around you. There is no greater gift to others than your precious presence. May you leverage the Power of Now with faith in the future to make it a great week, a wonderful holiday season and a strong finish to an amazing year.
 
Make it a great week!

steve Luckenbach