Musings, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

The prophet sent a letter to the people in exile with bad news. They weren't going home anytime soon. He then asks them to do just about the impossible. Live!  He says to them: plant gardens, marry, have children and plan to marry those children....in exile.  Live, be present, where you find yourself. 

We live in a world that is filled with distractions. I must check my iPhone 100 times a day. If there are no emails to respond to, I check the weather or the news. This takes me away from the present moment, from the gift that is unfolding right now. It may be that I am trying to avoid something....like the reality of the sermon that needs to be written or the difficult phone call I need to make. The Internet gives us an infinite number of distractions from living life where we find ourselves now. 

We may not be in exile like the people Israel find themselves in Babylon but we still may be far from home. As the prophet reminds us, we have this life now. Not the dream of what is to come, nor the longing for what was. Your life, the one you are to live, is happening right now. 

I hope you will find some time to enjoy yourself outside this weekend. For me, the smell of damp leaves, the crisp air and beautiful fall sky helps me to be in the moment. 

Enjoy!

Peace, 

Beth