Be here now

Be Here Now: A Reminder to be Present

A colleague who became a friend gave me a necklace that had 3 words printed on individual squares. As you turned it, each word appeared. Be.    Here.   Now.

I thought of this saying on my recent trip to the Amazon in Peru. At first, I thought about the many things that need to happen in the next two months for my debut novel. If I admit it, I started counting down the days. Not worrying or anxious, as I look forward to putting in the effort, but it was on my mind.

Learning to Let Go on Vacation

My husband and I just came back from the Amazon during its rainy season, and it was true to its name. One morning, we were meandering down a tributary, and I was daydreaming about my to-do list. In that moment, I sensed God gently asking me to notice his creation by asking questions. What are you doing? Work will be there, and you will be very busy, and then you will long to be back on vacation. Do you see my handiwork in front of you? Do you appreciate all that I’ve created? My morning devotion centered on Psalm 16:1-7 from the Upper Room.

Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this. Job 38:18

The commentary was about azalea bushes that are green all year, and then in spring, “beautiful blooms adorn azaleas with bright colors, which are pleasing to the eyes.” The author went on to say how the azaleas go unnoticed and are taken for granted in the other seasons.

Here I am on a long-hoped-for trip, and I was not fully present. I resolved to shift my focus and give my undivided attention to God’s amazing creativity. And as if for a reward, the rainy morning was a display of this grandeur. My resolve brought another verse to mind.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

I’ve always thought of this verse as one where I need to be alone, in a quiet place, and just be, to contemplate. But with this experience I began to understand “Be still and know I am God,” in a new way.

Recognizing God’s Handiwork with our Five Senses

Instead of solitude alone, it became an invitation to use all five senses. Listening to the symphony from the exotic birds, the croaking of the frogs, and the gentle lapping of the water while gliding, they all trumpeted the daily news.

I breathed in, smelling the deep, rich aromas of the earth and fauna, caused by the rain mixing with the dry earth. The scent I learned is called petrichor, “A grounding, mineral-rich, and slightly metallic scent, often triggering feelings of nostalgia, calm, and a deep, instinctual connection to nature.” Or a “Sensory human handshake, connecting us to the soil and the rain.”

Swimming in the water’s coolness or touching the smooth side of a leaf whose other side is rough and used for sandpaper.

Seeing and being in awe of the abundance of God’s incredible, imaginative Garden of Eden! In the rainforest, there are over 1300-1500 bird species, 2,500-3000 fish species, and 3,000 fruits of which about 200 are used in the Western world.

Tasting the delicious variety of flavors from the local trees that bring spice, sweetness, and learning not only their culinary contribution but also about tremendous natural health benefits, addressing many ailments!

Using these five senses created gratitude, attention, and inspiration. It was a devotional.

Finding God in Everyday Miracles

Because of this experience, even ordinary moments can remind us of  God’s Prescence. We don’t need to be in the Amazon to use our five senses to acknowledge, appreciate, and be in awe of God’s world that He created for us. Taking a walk, we marvel at the snow and the beauty of the architecture of the now barren trees, whose branches reach up like arms to praise God. We enjoy the crunch of making fresh tracks, the aroma of a bowl of hot soup simmering after the walk, and the taste of winter vegetables’ heartiness.

In all that is happening in our world, we can feel God’s power in what he created, giving us hope and inspiration to be still and know that He is there and always will be.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118: 24

Choosing to be present everyday

May we choose each day to be here now—to pause and notice God’s handiwork. May we not take for granted the beauty of ordinary miracles, appreciating the gift of today and trusting God with our tomorrows.

What are ways you’ve found to be totally present? Looking forward to hearing from you!