Mindfulness, Anxiety, Meditation, Slacklining, Present Moment, Future Reality, Purposeful Living

12/24/2019         Sun    (to see video, click HERE)

Do you practice “mindfulness”?  It’s a relatively new and fashionable term to describe living in the present moment without judgement, anxiety or worry.  Some people try to achieve mindfulness through meditation and mind-centering techniques that empty the mind of thoughts and distractions, while others try to achieve it through activities that totally consume one’s mind, like “slacklining” – trying to maintain one’s balance on a loose rope stretched between trees. 

Either way, I wonder whether it helps put people more in touch with reality, or is it really to help people escape it?  It seems to me like the people most able to live in the moment, however, are those who are filled with a strong sense of gratitude and appreciation for the world around them. 

I thought about this during and after a conversation with Sun, an international student from China.  Sun told me he doesn’t think much about the future, after I asked him what he believes about eternity.  I wondered why, since he seems like a person who enjoys life.  He told me that he had just concluded that one can’t really know what the future holds, so why worry about it?  Why not just live in the present and enjoy it?

I’ve had many people tell me they just prefer to live in the present, and to not worry about the future, often as a criticism of Christianity which they see as not based on our present reality.  Atheists have told me they appreciate life so much more, that since this is all there is every moment has so much more meaning and they want to live life to the fullest.

But is it really possible to live in the present, with no thought for the future?  Is it practical?  Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has “set eternity in the human heart”.  If, deep down, even the atheist can’t avoid thoughts about eternity, wouldn’t it be better to have one’s future secure so one can truly appreciate and live in the present? 

As a Christian, thoughts of an eternity with our Creator serve to make me more purposeful and passionate about living in the present.  In a sense, like the atheist, I see this present reality as something that will never happen again, but only because this present world is passing away and along with it the unique opportunities it gives us to serve and bring glory to God.  There are things we can do here we will no longer be able to do in heaven, like serving the poor, working for justice, or sharing the Gospel with unbelievers.

In Christ, we have much to look forward to, and much to live for now.  In Revelations 21 we read “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Outside of Christ, thoughts of the future can be worrisome, and lead many to anxiety, despair, depression and hopelessness, even suicide.  I wonder if “mindfulness” isn’t really just a fancy term for distraction, busyness, or the entertainment that helps people avoid thoughts of the future.  With the wonderful future and eternal life that God offers through faith in Jesus, I wonder if it shouldn’t be called “mindlessness” instead.

See our conversation on my YouTube channel HERE at https://youtu.be/0RXtzmDwlss