The Practice of Presence:  Living in the Now 

In our fast-paced, ever-distracted world, the greatest spiritual discipline may be simply this: to be here. Not in the past with its regrets, nor in the future with its anxieties—but here, now, in this present moment. The sacred always dwells in the present, yet we so often miss it because our minds are elsewhere. The practice of presence is the art of coming home to ourselves, to God, and to the life unfolding before us. 

When Moses encountered God, God said, “I am.” Not “I was” or “I will be,” but “I am,” as in the present. He also didn’t meet God in a temple or throne room, but in a bush—an ordinary shrub, burning with divine fire. The ground was made holy not because of where it was, but because of the Presence. 

That’s why I use the acronym AWE—Aware, Wonder, Enjoy/Engage/Experience—as a spiritual guide. Awe is a doorway to presence, and presence is the dwelling place of God. 

Aware:We begin by waking up. What do I see, hear, feel, and sense right now? Can I notice the breath in my lungs, the warmth of sunlight, the tone in a friend’s voice, and the stirrings of my heart? It is to see the tree or the beetle or a child. To be aware is to say: “This moment matters. This is where I am and where God is.” 

Wonder: Once aware, we shift our posture. Instead of trying to control, analyze, or judge, we pause with reverence. We observe the beauty and mystery. We ponder what might be below the surface and open our hearts to see with new eyes, to be astonished again by the Unknown within the Known. 

Enjoy / Engage / Experience: Finally, we step into the moment. How we step in depends upon the nature of the moment. It may be that we just need to savor and enjoy it. Or perhaps the moment is calling us to engage with the people or events happening. Whatever it is, we don’t just observe life—we participate in the experience. Whether it’s folding laundry, holding a loved one’s hand, or sitting in silence, we can bring our full selves to what is before us. In doing so, we experience the Divine not as an idea, but as a living Presence flowing through it all. 

Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:21). The sacred, the Divine Presence, is not found out there somewhere or at some future time. It is always here. Always now. 

When we are fully present, we live in AWE, not just in moments of grandeur, but in the smallest details of our daily lives. As we practice this—and it does require diligent practice—we discover that every moment, no matter how ordinary, is shimmering with God. 

• Jean-Pierre de Caussade: “The present moment is the ambassador of God.” (The Sacrament of the Present Moment) 

• Brother Lawrence: “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual walk with God in the present moment.” (The Practice of the Presence of God)

• Simone Weil: “To be rooted in the present is to dwell in the reality of God.” (Gravity and Grace)

• The Dhammapada 334: “The present is the key; those who live fully in it walk the path of wisdom.”

• Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (NIV)

Question to Ponder: How can you fully embrace the present moment? 
Action to Take: Pause three times today to be in AWE. 

• Thomas Merton: “The present moment is where peace is found, for it is free of the weight of past and future.” (No Man Is an Island) 

• Thich Nhat Hanh: “The miracle is not to walk on water but to walk on the earth in the present moment.” (Peace Is Every Step) 

• Julian of Norwich: “In the now, we find that God is with us and that all shall be well.” (Revelations of Divine Love) 

• Tagore: “The present is a melody; listen closely, for it carries the voice of eternity.” (Gitanjali) 

• Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV) 

Question to Ponder: How can living in the present bring you peace? 
Action to Take: Take a minute to breathe deeply and experience peace in the present. 

• St. Benedict of Nursia: “Listen carefully, my child, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart, for the now is where God speaks.” (The Rule of St. Benedict) 

• Meister Eckhart: “God is not found in the past or future but in the eternal now.” (Sermons and Treatises) 

• Rabindranath Tagore: “God’s presence is like the light of dawn, illuminating each moment anew.” (Gitanjali) 

• Rumi: “Don’t wait for the right time; this moment is your doorway to God.” (The Essential Rumi) 

• Tao Te Ching 14: “The Tao is always present, unseen and eternal, guiding those who live in the now.” 

• Acts 17:28: “For in him we live and move and have our being.” (NIV) 

Question to Ponder: How can you recognize God’s presence in this moment? 
Action to Take: Practice mindfulness today, becoming aware of God in every moment. 

• Henri Nouwen: “Freedom is found in living in the now, where God’s grace is sufficient.” (The Inner Voice of Love) 

• Eckhart Tolle: “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the now the primary focus of your life.” (The Power of Now) 

• St. Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” (Sayings of St. Francis) 

• Rumi: “Let go of yesterday and tomorrow; your freedom lies in today.” (The Essential Rumi) 

• John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV) 

Question to Ponder: How can you let go of the past and future to embrace the freedom of now? 
Action to Take: Identify one fear or regret tied to the past or future and release it in the now. 

• Julian of Norwich: “The now is where God meets us, offering joy, hope, and love.” (Revelations of Divine Love)

• Marcus Aurelius: “Do every act of your life as though it were the last act of your life.” (Meditations) 

• Tagore: “Life is given to us moment by moment; live it fully, for it is sacred.” (Gitanjali) 

• The Upanishads 2.1.1: “The eternal resides in the now, where the soul finds its truth.” 

• James 4:14: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (NIV) 

Question to Ponder: How can you live each moment fully in the now? 
Action to Take: Set an alarm on your phone for every hour and be in AWE. 

• Brother Lawrence: “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual walk with God in the present moment.” (The Practice of the Presence of God) 

• Thomas Merton: “The present moment is where peace is found, for it is free of the weight of past and future.” (No Man Is an Island) 

• Rumi: “Don’t wait for the right time; this moment is your doorway to God.” (The Essential Rumi) 

• Henri Nouwen: “Freedom is found in living in the now, where God’s grace is sufficient.” (The Inner Voice of Love) 

• Tagore: “Life is given to us moment by moment; live it fully, for it is sacred.” (Gitanjali) 

• Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (NIV) 

Question to Ponder: What does it mean for you to live in the Now? 
Action to Take: Don’t wait – live NOW!