Hey friends! 👋🏼

Before we dive into this week's content, I want to ask for a favor. (I promise, it's super simple)

If you're enjoying the writing that we've been sending out for the past few weeks, would you consider sharing it with someone you know? While 3 Things is a side project of mine, I would love to see it grow and have the opportunity to reach even more people than we already do. So if you know someone who's interested in faith, productivity, family, and anything else that might come to mind while I'm writing, would you consider sharing this post with them? You can also share this link with them so they can catch a glimpse of other things I'm creating and subscribe to 3 Things.

Let's dive right in.

A Thought. 💡

One of the most difficult things for me is being fully present.

But it's not because I don't place an incredibly high value on what's right in front of me. It's not because I'm perpetually distracted by my phone (okay, sometimes I spend too much time scrolling, but Lent has really been a paradigm-shift for me this year on this front). It's not even because I don't want to be fully present.

The primary reason that I struggle to be present is because my mind tends to be in the future, out in front of me.

I don't spend very much time at all thinking about what's happened in the past; it's very easy for me to put that kind of thing behind me. Instead, my mind is oriented toward the future. I can be a bit of an idealist, so I do a lot of dreaming and thinking about what the future could look like or about things that I could do depending on the outcome of various decisions.

Let's just say, I daydream quite a bit.

And while I'd argue that this isn't a bad thing--I can be quite a visionary and forward-thinking person--it also means that I have to be really intentional about being present and in the moment.

One of my favorite authors, Dallas Willard wrote in his book The Divine Conspiracy, "God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are..." And the reality is that the present moment is all you really have. Sure, we can plan and think about the future. We can think about the past and relive memories that bring us a lot of joy. But the reality is that the only thing we possess is the present. (I think there's a cliché line about that one)

Being present to the moment means that you see the people in front of you more clearly. It means that you are more aware of the things that you currently have and aren't as concerned about what has been or what might be.

But for many people, this doesn't come naturally; it takes a bit of practice.

So here's a few of practices and rhythms that have been helpful for me in the pursuit of being present.

1. Turn your phone off. Trust me, your Instagram feed isn't that important. Your kids, your family, the person sitting across the table from you...they are.
2. Start your day (before you do anything else) by taking one minute to breathe and be still. Pay attention to nothing but your breath. When thoughts about your to-do list, upcoming events, worries or stressors come up, slowly come back to your breathing. As you are able, add more time each day.
3. When you sit down for a meal with your family, leave your phone in another room. This will help you bring about real conversation. Ask each other questions and genuinley want to know the answers.
4. Make a gratitude list. Write down a few things each morning that you're thankful for. Doing this on a regular basis will not only give you a concrete bank of reminders of the goodness of God, but it will also help you be grounded in what is and not what might be in the future.

There's a lot more here, but slowly adding these practices into your life will open a door for you to be more present to the moment and to the people you're with. I'd love to hear from you about how you're taking steps to be present!

A Resource. 📚

At the church I work for, we're about to start a 9-week series all about reading the Bible well. We've curated a list of books that we're suggesting to our church family that we believe will help gain a greater understanding of the Bible itself, but also to add scripture into the practice of their life. You can check out the full list of books here.

Stay tuned for links to the videos we're creating each week if you're interested in growing in your personal understanding and relationship to the Bible.

A Verse. ✝️

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

--Romans 12v14-18 (NRSV)

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Blessings 🙏🏽

Kyle

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P.S. If you like what you're reading, take a moment to share this link with someone you know. Thanks in advance for helping us grow our audience and inviting others into the conversation!

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