The pop psychology gurus of today have conditioned us to use phrases like “live in the moment” and “the power of now,” but such noble spiritual sentiments can easily lead to what is called participation mystique, the raw experience of life where we are immersed in the flow of reality to the point of lacking any consciousness of our experience and thus any ability to exercise our capacity to think and choose. Such a way of life is natural for animals and children, but for adults it is a cause of great anxiety, as, indeed, the person who only “lives in the moment” is always on the verge of losing what is precious to them. What is needed is a strategy to extend our experiences into the future. This is precisely why the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14), to be the trustworthy intervention and firm boundary marker (Jn 19:30) in the drama of it all, a durable container to keep our experiences going all the way into eternal life and beyond. Let’s therefore get into the habit of inviting the Word into the present moment so that we don’t just participate in life, but so that we might have life and be at peace (Jn 10:10). Ave Crux, Spes Unica.
