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Rev. Dr. Alden E. Sproull on present moments
Pausing Long Enough to Hear From God
Caught with wonder and beauty as I gaze into the face of a little child; stopped dead in my tracks by the beauty of a sunset; enfolded by a close friend’s love and care. These are reminders of living in the present moment.
The present moment isn’t magical or extraordinary, it is simply life as it is – rarely outlined or planned; it may even be messy, but full of the sacred. Getting myself out of the way, willing to let go of my quest for surety, permanence, and control is a step that stirs my creative energy, opening me to my ability to be in the present moment. This deep letting go enables me to be at home in the chaos of my life. Chaos, sat with long enough, has its own rhythm and beauty; once noticed it lends itself to being open. Getting out of the discussion of what my life ought to be and being with life as it is, gives me the ability to be fully open to where the present moments are discovered in the now. What is revealed to me is simply this – in the present moments I discover an ease of doing that I couldn’t otherwise imagine because of my thirst for control and my need to manipulate things to meet my own ends.
An acrostic for ego is Eases, God, Out. The pivotal word for me is “eases,” which is so subtle and unnoticed by my consciousness unless I make a deliberate shift toward living in the now.
My prayer is that you move more deeply into the sacredness of the now, the present moment, and discover the ease and freedom of life that is waiting for you.
Rev. Dr. Alden E. Sproull has served Redlands Community Hospital as clinical chaplain for 20 years. He finds his role as hospital chaplain formed by the practice of spiritual direction. He has worked in the area of Contemplative Spirituality for 30 years. He also serves as the Spiritual Director for the Oncology service at Beaver Medical Clinic in Redlands. He has been married to Victoria for 44 years and they have five lovely grandchildren. His interest in spirituality brought him to a place of organizing Kairos: A Center for Spiritual Formation and now teaches, holds retreats, provides spiritual formation experiences for individuals, groups, corporations, etc.
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