I try to practice time travel. Not the science fiction kind, where people are physically transported to another period of history or into the distant future. No, my preference for time travel is anxiety. I imagine all forms of futures, not all of them desirable, and the possibilities easily consume my thoughts. I don’t live in that future. My life is not a constant state of anxious thoughts, but I am easily carried off into what might be. “What happens if…” is a very familiar question.

I know many people get stuck in the past. While I understand what might lead to such struggles, my issues tend to focus on what is yet to come. Either way, trying to re-live the past or anticipate the future, when our thoughts are somewhere else, we are no longer rooted in the present, and being present to the present is incredibly important.

The present is important because that is where we actually live. It is the only moment we can experience and the only place where we can act. When we dwell on the past or worry about the future, we surrender the opportunity of the moment to focus on what we cannot change or what may never happen. In our current context, this is a profound challenge. My thoughts are engaging in multiple rounds of “What if?” and each time I allow the game to be played, I miss the preciousness of the present.

Almost four years ago, I nearly lost my wife, my best friend, to cancer. The process was lengthy, with multiple life threatening moments. In those moments, she was enmeshed in battle and I was facing my worst fears and a profound sense of helplessness. Thank God, she experienced a full recovery, and we continue to enjoy our life together.

In this moment, we are aware of the need to take precautions because we both are at higher risk of contracting this virus, and with her compromised immune system, my choices can have a serious impact on her health. This is where my anxiety begins. I begin to imagine possibilities from the potential impact of a simple mistake, to seeing her in another battle for her life. Those thoughts often play in high definition.

Are such fantasies possible? Yes, they are, but so is the possibility that our wise choices protect us, and we both emerge healthy and happy. The truth is, I have absolutely no idea what the future holds. I cannot know what will happen today. What I do know is, when I am imagining challenging, potential futures, I am missing the blessing of the present. Bluntly stated, when I am anxious about our future, I am loosing the time we have together now.

I admit that I find it difficult to be present. From what I see and hear, many people do. Just because it is difficult doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try. In fact, it is all the more important that I do. One of the blessings, and challenges, of the current, restricted activity is time to practice being present. I realize that I may never achieve perfection in this, but I can be much better.

The practice of mindfulness is popular right now, but the rich history of those in the Christian tradition who practiced prayer and meditation, points to the value of being present to the present in every moment. When we release the past and the future, we can be at peace in the present. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” We can live in the moment: savoring it, celebrating it, and truly living it. Living in the moment causes anxiety to dissolve for there is nothing left to be anxious about.

I know I need a lot of practice, but what a great use of this time. Today, this moment, is the perfect time to be fully present to God, to my family, and to the world, and I will keep practicing until it happens naturally. If you struggle with holding on to the past, or worrying about the future, I pray that you will join me in asking God to help you be present to the present, for in this moment is the presence and peace of God.