As  we prepare to go home today, I am grateful for this opportunity I’ve had to expand myself and also to see my family. However, when it’s time to go home, it’s time. I cannot wait to touch down on Kaua’i and to smell that sweetness of the flowers and salty ocean air. After being in the dry high desert, the humidity is welcomed.

In the meantime, I am in the moment while traveling. Some people say they love traveling, some people don’t like it at all, and some people avoid it at all costs. I’m in the middle of those three things. I love it because it allows me to be where I want to be quickly and fairly easily.

I’m the type of person, who when confronted with a big task like traveling over 3000 miles, take it moment to moment. I truly stay present. It allows me to truly experience each moment, not get overwhelmed by all the stimuli in the airport and to truly enjoy the experience. I’m planning on enjoying the experience today, beginning right now.

I think this relates to all of life. Staying present is the key to truly experiencing our lives no matter where we are or what we are doing. With the distractions of social media, cell phones and T.V. stimuli, it can be difficult, but it is a must for me. I’m getting better and better at it. It takes trust. It takes focus. It takes surrender. It takes allowing.

The gifts of staying present are discoveries that we might have missed. When we were on our retreat, we were asked to remain silent as we walked from a meditation in nature back to the hotel. We were most definitely present. Because of that, we were able to witness a mother deer with her fawn in the bosque. It was one of those sacred heart moments that will stay with me forever.

I wonder how many sacred moments I will experience today?

Promising to stay present with Love and Aloha

Rev. Rita