You might find this post a tad long, but if you don't have time to read it, it was written just for you... 

When God appeared to Moses at the burning bush in the wilderness, he introduced himself as "I AM"--an admittedly curious name. "I AM" is, in part, an expression of God's eternal, timeless nature: "I neither was nor will be."

I AM. Ever, fully, present.

Jesus stunned the sensibilities of many with a series of declarations throughout his ministry including "I AM the bread of life"; "I AM the light of the world"; "I AM the door"; "I AM the good shepherd"; " I AM the resurrection and the life"; "I AM the way, the truth and the life"; "I AM the vine." With each "I AM" pronouncement, Jesus at once testified of his eternal, timeless--and, therefore, divine--nature and he appended a striking metaphor to describe a quality of his life and ministry. The implications of the name, "I AM," were without ambiguity to those who heard Jesus speak. This was powerfully demonstrated when, on the eve of Jesus' crucifixion, Judas led the civil and religious authorities to apprehend Jesus in the garden. "Whom do you seek?" Jesus inquired. "Jesus the Nazarene," came the reply. "I AM," Jesus countered; and the rabble, frightened by Jesus' declaration of the Divine, drew back, and fell to the ground.

Mightn't it be possible--in spite of our mortality--to change our relationship to time in a way that both honors the timeless nature of God and redounds to the benefit of ourselves and neighbor? The common relationship of man and time can be represented, ironically, by the swing of a clock's pendulum: left and right...back and forth...past and future...regret and anxiety. What would it look like, what would it take, to stop the pendulum from swinging, to cause it to rest at center, representing this present moment..and this one...and this one?

I AM. Ever, fully, present.

How can we know when our pendulums are "off-center"?

Become aware of the innate meters that register when our thoughts move away from the centering present. Here are three...

One...if, for example, your thoughts are consumed with guilt and regret, it is indicative that your pendulum has swung to the past; if, however, your thoughts are preoccupied by fear and anxiety, it's apparent that your pendulum has swung to the future.

Two...patience is much more than a common courtesy or virtue. By nature, we typically have little patience for where we are (that is, to be ever, fully, present). We are usually on the way to somewhere--anywhere, perhaps, but here. Because we are always on the move, most everything and everyone we encounter are mere impediments to our progress, our outcomes, our personal and professional agendas. As a result, we become impatient: impatient with ourselves, impatient with neighbor, impatient with God. If you find yourself impatient, frustrated, irritable, harsh, controlling, it's an indicator that your pendulum has swung to the future.

Three...when you are in conversation with another, become aware of your disposition. Are you fully immersed, fully present, in the conversation? Or, as your partner in conversation is speaking, are you either crafting your reply or strategizing your exit? If the latter, it's evident that your pendulum has swung to the future.   

How then can we move our pendulums to center, to the place of ever, fully, present?

Breathe. Deliberately, slowly, deeply, audibly. Inhale, exhale. As you breathe, let each breath become a simple meditative prayer.

You might begin by repeating one of the "I AM" declarations of Jesus. If, for example, you are experiencing regret or anxiety, choose the "I AM" declaration that is most relevant to your need. Are you feeling void of direction in life? Inhale with the words, "I AM..."; exhale with the words, "...the good shepherd." Lather, rinse, repeat. Are you grieving a loss? Inhale with the words, "I AM..."; exhale with the words, "...the resurrection and the life." Lather, rinse, repeat.  

The possibilities are endless. Inhale: "Love God..."; Exhale: "...love neighbor." Lather, rinse, repeat. Or, inhale: "Thy will..."; exhale: "...be done." Lather, rinse, repeat. Or, inhale: "Lord Jesus Christ..."; exhale: "...have mercy upon me." Lather, rinse, repeat. What else is there?