Michael Quattrone is a singer, songwriter and seeker whose greatest curiosity and most profound learnings are sparked at the threshold between inner life and outward expression. You can learn more at Hearthfire.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by the choice that is both 'now or never' and 'now and always'? Can you share a personal story of a time you faced this choice? What is a practice that helps you remember this choice in the midst of ceaseless activity?
The last paragraph says it all. Thank you.The only answer is yes here and now.
For me, this YES reflects my willingness to embrace the present moment and all that it contains. When I am unwilling, I push away what is and invite distraction or some busyness to shift my attention. If I am truthful with myself, my deepest intent is to live freely and love fully. I find this is only possible when I am fully present in the here and now. So, thank you for the reminder and the inspiration to stand by my deep intent.
Following your heart is a courageous choice - and to me that is the choice that at this very moment is 'now or never' and yet 'now and always'......in that I can choose my heart over my head every single moment, and yet this moment in itself is so precious, it will be lost if the choice is not made here....
Sensing my own body, meditation, reflection and journalling, lots of prayer - all of these are for me ways I connect to my heart and what it has for me....its a tricky and edge slope, for the mind can pretend to be the heart (and all those games!)....
The path of the heart need not even be the path of great joy necessarily (for me) - but it is a path with a heart.....it is a living path, a path I truly own....it is only to be experienced, not described :)
'Now or never' conveys to me urgency, that opportunity presents itself now and there is not time to waste, there is no guarantee that the opportunity will stay. 'Now and always' conveys to me that the choice entails crossing a line and there is no going back, as it's a life changing choice that lasts forever. The choice is between data or wisdom, between attachment or freedom, between things or spirit, between control or surrender, between doing or being, between busyness or stillness, between separation or unity, between yes or no. I face this choice ongoingly. For me it's not really a matter of giving up data, things, doing, but a matter of being in control of them rather than letting them be in control of me. It's an ongoing process of being in the world but not of it. Sometimes I make it. It helps me to remind myself of this and abide in awareness of it.