As I begin writing this column, I am wondering if I am treading on dangerous ground because of the topic I plan to tackle. If I have any expertise, it is in philosophy or theology.

In this column, I am planning to deal with psychology, specifically with what counselors call “mindfulness.” In fascinating book entitled “Stop Missing Your Life: How to be Deeply Present in an Un-Present World,” Cory Muscara writes the following:

“I like to define mindfulness as the practice of being with our experience rather than in our experience, in a way that is spacious, curious, and heartfelt.

“Imagine your life as a river going down a mountain. There are two ways you could be in relation to the river: (1) you could be caught up in the river, smashing into the bank, drowning into the whitewater, crashing into rocks; (2) or you could be sitting on the bank of the river, watching it go by with a quality of peace and ease. In either case, you’re still experiencing the river, just from two different vantage points, and therefore a different experience entirely.

“This is what I mean by being with experience instead of being in experience. And it’s also what I mean when I use the word
‘spacious.’ It points to the idea that there’s a separation between the ‘you’ who is observing and whatever it is that you’re observing.

There’s me and there’s my anger that I’m observing. But most often the two seem like the same thing. I am angry. We identify so strongly with whatever experience we are having that we get sucked into it. Once inside, we get thrashed around wherever it wants to take us.

“Mindfulness is a way for us to step out of that thrashing. In our journey toward presence, mindfulness is the thing that allows us to deepen our connection to the present moment without getting overwhelmed by it” (pp. 46-47).

I am fascinated by the insight that mindfulness reveals, namely that there is available to us a way of growing and deepening our experience and presence just by the way in which we are present in an experience. How can that be?

Unlimited Truth, Unlimited Beauty.  Every reality that God creates resembles God.

Creatures are limited beings, finite truth, finite good, finite beauty. I realize that most of us do not always think of God’s creatures in this way. However, serious reflection on the meaning of finite beings can remind us that they can help us appreciate the being, goodness, truth, and beauty of God.

I confess that I have a serious weakness that I am trying to correct. I do not regularly appreciate the beauty of nature. This is something that I want to correct. For whatever reason, the way that I am present to nature does not help me to be enriched by the beauties of nature.

Is it that I am preoccupied when I encounter nature’s beauties? Is it that I seem to be always rushing somewhere? Friends frequently tell me that I should slow down and “smell the roses.”

I am hoping that writing this series on the mystery of presence will help me to be more present to the gift of creation.

Philosophy tells us about finite and Infinite Being. Religious faith tells us much more. Religious faith tells us that all is gift. Religious faith tells us that not a moment goes by that God is not loving us. Religious faith tells us that the Incarnation has deepened the mystery and meaning of everything, of all of reality. Reflection on God’s unlimited love for us enriches beyond measure our value, our dignity, our importance.

There are many ways that we can be present to ourselves, and each way can probably reveal some truth about ourselves. Reflecting on God’s love for us, revealed through Jesus’ death and resurrection, reveals the most important truth about ourselves.

God loves us beyond our ability to comprehend that love. We have not merited that love. We could never earn or merit that love. No matter what we do, God will never stop loving us. I think the most profound truth about each of us is that God loves us.

However we are present to ourselves, we must never forget that God loves us and will always love us. May we allow that love to transform and shape us.