I'm pretty sure I can blame the entirety of Western culture, but I don't know how to stop and be present. Work hard, play hard, sleep hard...and try to squeeze as much time with friends in there as humanly possible.

We don't slow down.

Which is why the Rule of Life gets me every time...especially the pieces regarding self and others:  
  •  We will be present to ourselves, seeking wellness for our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies.
  •  We will be present to our neighbors and creation, paying attention to their needs.

I typically am so focused on the task(s) at hand, that I plow right through my days in an effort to be as efficient and as productive as possible...and often miss the most beautiful moments - and people - life has to offer.

As we've made a point to live out portions of the Rule in weekly segments, I've spent a lot of time the last month working on being present to myself, slowing down, breathing, enjoying the moments.  It's been an incredibly valuable - and healthy - slowing down experience.

But perhaps one of the most valuable interactions I've had is not with myself, but with my roommate. He's a real sweet guy from India who spends his time working on his doctorate (apparently having to do with lasers? I think he's trying to take over the world).  We rarely find ourselves in the same room, and when we do I tend to be on my way to this, focused on finishing that, rushing off to the next thing.

This past week I determined to pause and connect with him in conversation.  It took some doing, but we found ourselves chatting Friday night. 

...and it was phenomenal.

His background is fascinating to me, and it's been really interesting to learn about the parallels we've found between American Christianism and Indian Hinduism religious systems.  Here we are, two young men with entirely different backgrounds (so different, in fact, that the steak I cooked for dinner last week was the first cooking of a slab of meat he'd ever witnessed) struggling with many of the same social implications that the corresponding religions of our respective cultures present.

We found in conversation a shared heart for active social engagement and creating the kind of communities that empower people rather than oppress them.  I left the conversation, excited, energized...

...and all because I took a moment to be present.

Posted by Jordan
@jordanupdike