The Present Moment, Part 2
“The present moment has no beginning and no end. It always was and always will be ‘Now.’ That which has no beginning and no end in time we call ‘eternal.’ We live and die in the eternity of the present moment; there is no other place in which we can live.”[1] Robert Brumet1
When we try to consider the present moment from the model of earth-time, the best we can do is imagine a pinpoint in time, something so short that it passes from our awareness as quickly as it arrives, less than a fraction of a millisecond. But what if the present moment is not immeasurably small but infinitely large? Perhaps entering a moment is not a matter of contracting our awareness but expanding it. What if the present moment contains everything that has happened and everything that is happening and everything that will happen all together in a unified, unbroken whole, right here, right now? What if the present moment includes everything physically manifested on earth right now and all spiritual energies of this world and beyond? Could we enter that sort of a present moment? I think we can. And I think we should. Figure 1 illustrates (imperfectly) this model of the present moment.
Figure 1 imagines the present moment as a dynamic crossroad, not a point in time but a comprehensive view, where physical and spiritual dimensions intersect with the past and future. The horizontal line represents earth-time, as we measure and understand it, with everything to the left of center the past and everything to the right of center the future. The vertical line represents the animating energy of creation. That energy, which underlies everything seen and unseen, vibrates at various rates. As the energy cools or slows down, it becomes more solid (think of ice) and manifests lower on the vertical as something tangible and physical. As that same energy heats up, its vibration rate increases and manifests as something less solid (think of steam), rises higher, and becomes ethereal and intangible. This slowing and speeding of the creating energy responds to the focus of our conscious attention and determines where on the vertical axis we find ourselves.
Somewhere in space and time, however, we find ourselves at an intersection where the current state of our spiritual energy meets the current state of our time-bound existence. In this model, that is the present moment. It is not a fixed point in time because time never stops. Neither is it a fixed point on the vertical axis because our consciousness moves between spiritual and material states of awareness. The present moment cannot be a finalized state of anything because everything in creation is in constant motion. As such, entering the present moment is about entering the gestalt or totality of what has been, what now is, and what is to be, together in a single, comprehensive experience. Granted, we are probably incapable of being consciously aware of all but a small cross-section of the whole, but by recognizing our place and part in the middle of this unfathomable process of creation we catch glimpses of our oneness with all that is, or with God.
If we consider how we arrived at this present moment, sequencing the exact events and the precise timing required to lead us here, we know our thinking mind is incapable of such orchestration. We have been led to this point by a greater intelligence, whether we perceive that intelligence as external to ourself, such as God, or internal, such as a True Self or soul. Regardless, the orchestrating energy is not random.
One aspect of this model I find particularly helpful is how it represents the present moment as a dynamic process instead of a stagnant or distinct point in time. We, individually and collectively, are in a process of becoming, of maturing, of being consummated in the perfection of the Creator’s vision. Motion and change are the relentless constants of the process. Vital components in this evolution occur simultaneously at all points on both the vertical and horizontal axes, and we, when our conscious awareness is focused on the present moment, find ourselves at the center of it all, participating with God as active co-creators of the reality we experience instead of as passive observers or victims.
This is the 10th in a series of Life Notes on Space, Time, and Eternity. The opinions expressed here are mine. To engage with me or to explore contemplative spiritual direction, contact me at ghildenbrand@sunflower.com.
[1] Robert Brumet, www.RobertBrumet.com, blog post on June 5, 2022.
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