May-June 2005 - The Journey Magazine

Elementary Informationon Being PresentBy Ric Schumacher, MinisterUnity Church Centre, Girard, OhioAs a child in elementary school I remember how theteacher would call the roll and how each child would respond.The one-word questions and answers sounded something likethis, “Billy?” “Here!” “Sue?” “Here!” Ric?” “Present.” In truthI was present only for a moment, as my mind would quicklywander to subjects other than those offered in the classroom.My body was in my seat but I was not present. Being presentis not about showing up; it is about how you show up.To be present is to show up fully. It is to have your mindand heart engaged with your body as you do what it is thatyou do. The art of being present is easily learned, but can bedifficult to practice. Here is why. The mind is pivotal innature. One can only focus on one thing at a time. Howeasily the wandering mind drifts to sweet memories of daysgone by, or leaps ahead to hopes and dreams yet to be fulfilled.Being present is mindfulness. The concept of mindfulnessis rooted in eastern thought. In western thought it ispaying attention to what is in front of you at the moment.Paying attention is an oversimplification of mindfulness butit leads us in the right direction. Being present is not multitasking.I have become a Master Multi-Tasker. I drive and talk onthe phone while eating a cheeseburger and drinking a cup ofcoffee. At the same time I change the radio station and checkthe mapquest download on my PDA. I am engaged in manythings but present to nothing. I need to seek the teaching ofa higher mind. Some might choose the Christ Mind othersthe Buddha Mind, I choose the Casey Mind. Casey is mycalico cat and she is always fully present. When she eats,she eats; when she sleeps, she sleeps. When she wantsattention she jumps in my lap, and when she wants to bealone she gets down and walks away. She expresses purepresence of being.When you and I express this pure presence of being weare open to Spirit. In that moment we have instant accessto the inspiration of Spirit. Now we can experience the blessingof the moment. The blessing of the moment comes withour interaction with common folk: the cashier at the grocerystore, the women in line in front of you, the child in her cartand the teddy bear with the shoe-button eyes in the child’sarms. Each of these offers us a blessing if we are beingpresent while we do what we do. How then do we becomepresent?The following exercises in being present will help youestablish the “Casey Mind.” One, commit yourself to doingonly one thing at a time. I have always been a fan of thetelevision program M.A.S.H.. In one episode Major CharlesEmerson Winchester said, “I do one thing at a time. I do itvery well, and then I move on.” Good advice for beingpresent. Two, pay attention to what you are doing. Bringyour mind and heart to experience before you. Three, askyourself, how are you showing up? What are you being whileyou are doing what you are doing. So, you see, being presentreally is as elementary as C-A-T and 1, 2, 3.ON THE COVERAcrylic paintingentitled Shanthi , created byCanadian artist D.S. Galardo.To view her artand receive info onlicensing opportunities, go towww.sacredartgallery.caor call 416-767-9346PAGE SIXTEENMAY • JUNE 2005THE JOURNEY