Faithfully Yours - Living in the moment

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Published on Saturday, May 9, 2015

By Neil Strohschein

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In recent weeks, I have become an avid subscriber to podcasts. Podcasts are audio or video programs that cover a wide variety of topics. They are not intended for radio or TV audiences. Some are rebroadcasts of radio or TV shows; but most are prepared and uploaded to the internet and can be downloaded to an MP3 player, tablet or home computer. Podcast subscribers receive new episodes as they become available and can listen to them at their convenience.

Being a fan of history, I have subscribed to several historical podcasts. But I recently found a motivational series by Bruce Van Horn which I have found to be very helpful.

Van Horn makes his living as a life coach and motivational speaker. In his spare time he trains for and runs marathons (26.2 mile races). He applies the principles of training for marathons to life—so his podcast is called “Life is a Marathon; Let’s Train Together.”

In Episode 7, Van Horn speaks of the importance of “living in the moment.” He urges his listeners to give their full and undivided attention  to every task on which they are working or to every person with whom they are speaking.

He shares the story of the time he and his youngest son went out for dinner. Before they left the car to go into the restaurant, Van Horn turned off his cell phone and put it under the driver’s seat. His son looked at him and asked: “Dad, what are you doing?”

 “Son,” he replied, “These next two hours are the most important hours that we will spend together this week. We are here to enjoy each other’s company. I am here to listen to you. You can talk to me about anything. Business calls and text messages can wait. This time is for you and me—by ourselves—with no interruptions.” His son was very impressed and the dinner and conversation they had was one of the best they had ever experienced.

Van Horn does not believe in multi-tasking. He argues that none of us can manage multiple tasks or projects at once. If we try, he argues, we will fail. Tasks will take longer to complete. People with whom we are speaking will get the impression that we don’t really care about them or their needs. Everyone, he argues, loses when we try to work on more than one thing at once.

But Van Horn would be the first to admit that this principle didn’t originate with him.

It goes back almost 2000 years to the example set by Jesus Christ himself. Every person who came to Jesus seeking his help was treated as though he or she was the only other person on earth. Jesus healed dozens of people each day; but he healed them one at a time. He cared enough to give each one his undivided attention. Did it make him less effective? No. It did just the opposite. He accomplished more in one day than most of us will accomplish in a week.

Just for today, try living in the moment. Give each task you undertake your undivided attention. Make the dinner table a “phone free zone—no texting or phone calls allowed.” When you talk to someone, eliminate distractions—turn off the radio or TV, put your computer to sleep, turn away from your desk and face the person you’re talking with. You will be amazed at how much you will achieve, how quickly you will do it and how satisfying the experience will be.