Today is our 5th Annual Telethon – Seasons of Love – here at Center for Spiritual Living Kaua’i. So much preparation has gone into making this day possible. So many people have showed up with their talents and their generosity of Spirit. It is already an amazing day just because of this. Whatever happens after this, will happen by staying present.

I love theater for this reason. This telethon is theater and it is my and my husband’s experience in producing theater that has assisted us to bring this telethon forward. But, back to the reason I love theater. Well, there are many reasons, but the greatest gift is the gift of staying present. While you are in the throes of the “play” or “production,” it is mandatory to stay present. If you do not, if you think into the future, you will lose your place and you will forget something.

What a great lesson this is for life and another reason why I feel that theater is an important part of any school curriculum. Teaching one to stay present is a life-long skill. So, how do we take the idea of staying present into the challenges of living in today’s world? For me, it is about not futurizing. We truly do not know what is going to happen tomorrow, unless we are conscious of what is happening today. Today will bring tomorrow and then tomorrow will be your today. There really is nothing but the present. If you want to know what your future is, look at your today and change accordingly.

Staying present with what is and living your best and highest self and making good choices in the moment, will bring the most powerful future. While we go through the telethon process today, we will each give our gifts in the moment. As we go through life, we have the opportunity to do the same. I never truly understood how fast life goes by until recently. I ask myself how I got to be the age I am? It was by living moments, some of which I let pass, because I was in the future. I understand this now.

So the gift of the 5th Annual CSL Kaua`i Telethon for me is the gift of being present. This is truly the present. I give it to each of you no matter your life circumstances. Can you live in today and make it okay right now? Can you visualize another present moment after this one that is exquisite and filled with good? If we can, we are causing effect. “Things which are made are not made by things which do appear.” Things which are made are made by being present with the best and highest thoughts possible and the actions that are aligned with that.

Love and Aloha, Rev. Dr. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author and Spiritual Director CSL Kaua`i