Living in the Moment!

by Karina Montes ~ Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati.

The past month, for me, has been a continued experience of growth and learning. From wrapping up our class on Trinity and Mission at CTU, to the Intercultural Living and Ministry Workshop in Racine, WI, and the ICN classes on Mission, Poverty, and Addictions, each experience has expanded my knowledge and understanding in profound ways. It's been a constant reminder that there’s always more to discover, keeping me open to new perspectives, ideas, and beliefs.

During this Lenten season, I have been trying to incorporate more contemplative prayer into my daily life. The struggle I find is bringing myself to sit. Bringing myself to just be and enter into this Silence.  As James Finley notes in Thomas Merton's Path to the Palace of Nowhere, “As soon as we enter into meditation practice, we immediately begin to taste our powerlessness. The ego does not like it, and therefore, we avoid the sitting. But the sitting itself is the place that dissolves away the illusions that hinder our awareness of how infinitely holy and perfectly fulfilled every moment is.” It’s in this “inherent holiness” that each moment brings that I hope to stay aware of.

As our time together in this program will inevitably come to an end, I’m striving to remain present. Present with my ICCN Sisters, present with the presenters and the wisdom they share, present with myself and my feelings, and present in ministry and service. I’m also cherishing the time I have left to enjoy the laughter, the energy, and the gift of companionship that these Sisters bring to me on this journey.

My hope is to continue living in the present moment, knowing that it is all we have. I want to remain open to the mysteries of life and the ineffable Mystery that is God. Allowing this Mystery to shape me and give me the courage to face the uncertainties of life with trust, knowing that God is present in all.

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”- Thomas Merton