2018/08/26 ● The Reverend Dena McPhetres ● Between Here and Now and Forever

“Between here and now and forever is such precious little time” sings Carrie Newcomer, yet we find so many ways to escape the present moment, especially if it’s painful. Today we’ll explore paying attention to our mortality in the here and now and the lessons that come from being present with painful experiences. Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron says “the most precious opportunity presents itself when we come to the place where we think we can’t handle whatever is happening.” Poet David Wagoner writes, “wherever you are is called here and you must treat it as a powerful stranger, must ask permission to know it and be known.” Making meaning out of our experiences in the here and now doesn’t happen once and then we’re done. It happens over and over again, if we’re paying attention to our precious little time on this earth.