The Present Moment.

The presence of God.
.
Yesterday I caught myself saying, "I can't believe how fast the summer has gone by!"  I explained that I had spent so much time and effort getting things ready for new windows to be installed in my house that it seemed as if I missed the entire month of July.  Later I reminded myself that my prep work had been my summer - only I missed it because I had been anticipating last week's installation - I was worried that it wouldn't go well, or that another big expense might have arisen if the workmen found rot in the walls, or something like that.  Nothing of the sort happened, and much of my prep work was over-kill. 
.
Worry about what could have happened, I neglected to experience what was happening in the present moment.  Likewise, this week I'm anticipating a doctor's visit and tests.  Gratefully I am able to not worry about it, and to set aside any concerns as they arise, and focus upon the present - sufficient for the day is the evil thereof - as the scripture says.  Yet the temptation to step outside the present moment seems to be always there.
.
I used to pray a lot of novenas, asking for special favors, or to prepare for a particular feast day.  Novenas are good and part of Catholic tradition, however I don't 'make' as many as I used to, and when I do, I don't really ask for much except spiritual graces for myself or others.  Over the years I understood that sometimes my intentions were perhaps restricting God to conform to my will, rather than me surrendering myself to his will. 
.
Ironically, I think the monthly novena - nine days of prayer to honor the infancy and holy childhood of Jesus, taught me something in that regard.  That first and foremost we must live in the present moment and that we must pray according to the will of God - at least I understood that is what I needed to do.  I've grown to understand and accept that the will of God is to be found in the present moment.  Thus, for me at least, a novena is not so much anticipating the end of it, nor even the special day one is preparing for, nor is it the particular grace one anticipates, rather its efficacy is in the process as it were - that is, the present moment of the mystery we anticipate.  At times, novenas seemed to me to be a way of marking time, as one marks off days on a calendar, looking forward to the end, and often, some kind of reward.
.
I suppose in a sense, that is the Christian life, since as we are told by, I think it is St. Peter, to "look forward to the Day of the Lord and try to hasten it."  While elsewhere scripture also tells us that we are pilgrims and strangers in this life and that we are to look forward to the world to come, our homeland.  So in light of these admonitions how does one do that and remain grounded in the present moment?
.
I don't know.
.
I just know that it is important to live in the present moment - that is where life happens - it is where we experience God's presence, it is where we find ourselves enfolded in his holy will, his divine providence.