Be Happy In the Moment

'Be Happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.' Mother Teresa

I read this quote on another Blog called There and Back Again by Beth Johnson. This is something I struggle with on a moment-by-moment basis. I am constantly worrying, especially about the more. It can be about anything, when am I going to clean out the junk drawer, did I hurt so-and-so's feelings, did Seth? When are we going to have children?

Lately, my "favorite" topic for worry has been, can I really worry for God? I suppose I should explain myself here. Seth and I will be joining the Orthodox Church soon. We have been meeting with our priest, Fr. David in preparation. I finally plucked up the courage to tell him about my compulsion to worry and he suggested I try to find some way to make my worrying glorify God (I am paraphrasing). For example, if someone loved food and loved to cook but struggled with meals during Lenten seasons, they should learn to cook vegetarian/vegan meals that are complete without meat or dairy so their absence isn't as noticable.

So, I decided to pray for whomever or whatever I was thinking about every time I began falling prey to those old comfy habits. Problem solved right?

(think: buzzer in a high school gym)

Not. Even. Close.

Instantly I had a whole new slew of topics to concern myself with. How do I pray? What do I say? Is this okay or should it be more like that? Etc. Completely forgetting everything I have learned. I toiled with these new concerns for about two weeks. Finally, I broke down and decided to ask Seth, his answer: 'I don't know, why don't you try what Fr. David was trying to tell you a few weeks ago. Use scripture that is appropriate for the situation.' Ok, so I know it shouldn't have, but Seth's practical wisdom took me by surprise, yet again, with what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it.

It has actually gotten a little easier to stop worrying and start praying. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I worry about finding the right Psalm or even verse, sometimes I am not near a Bible and I am just now starting to try to memorize the Psalms and verses that I take refuge in most often.

But I am trying, trying to 'be happy in the moment' because 'it is enough' for me.