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A viral photo of an elderly woman, small in stature and radiating childlike joy as she leaned against a fence at an outdoor event, deeply moved me. She stood out from the crowd just like the vibrant maple tree in my yard stood out against a backdrop of pine trees. The attendees around the woman were all busy with their phones down, texting, or taking pictures. But this woman...this jewel of a bygone era knew how to be present. She had no phone, no camera, nothing to divide her attention. She was simply there, content to capture the beauty of the moment with her stillness. My conscience nagged at me. Had I somehow become like those around her, disconnected from the present and even forgetting the lessons of my own past? Had I split my attention between texting, emailing, worrying, and everything else to miss the joy of now? The importance of the moment? Recently, I started a career I’d always felt led to pursue. At first, I was trusting in God’s plan for my life. Somewhere along the way, though, the busyness of planning turned into worry. Worry turned into fear, and life became more about obstacles and less about God’s purpose for me. I even began to compare my life to others. “Comparison kills contentment,” a pastor once said. How right he was. I couldn't rest in the present. My mind was consumed by future fears, overwhelmed by constant information, even bringing my phone to dinner and movies—things I’d always avoided. Are you feeling the same way? Are you at peace? Are there moments in your life where you can reclaim your focus and be fully present, undivided? For me, I needed grounding, so I threw on a hoodie and stepped outside to the vibrant maple tree my children and I planted fifteen years ago. The tree had come to mind when I first saw the photo, and as I touched its trunk, I felt it even more—this tree and that precious woman knew a secret I longed to comprehend. Determined to understand, I sat down. The more I forced myself to think, the more anxious I became. My busy mind worked against me. It was only when a gentle breeze swept through the branches, lifting my hair and cooling my face, that I closed my eyes, relaxed, and listened to the melody of the rustling leaves—a sweet song that I most likely would’ve missed had I not been still. Could the secret of contentment be this simple? I wondered. To let go and be still in the moment? I opened my eyes and gazed at the maple tree. “You don’t compare yourself to others, nor do you worry about the seasons to come. You simply stand tall, flourishing where planted, undistracted, undivided, trusting. And that woman knew how to be present in the moment the same way. Her joyful, calm presence standing out against a backdrop of chaos.” The riddle solved itself, but only when I’d abandoned trying to decipher it. Standing, I patted the tree, certain my neighbors would smile, saying, “There goes that writer again. Must be working on a tree story.” And yep, they’d be right…sort of. Breathing deeply, I walked back to the house, shoulders relaxed and realizing that I’d left my phone behind-- a promising sign that I was finally on the right path. Jake, my faithful boxer, greeted me at the door with his toy. Usually, I’d head straight to my desk to write down new ideas for a story, but not today. No, today, I put into action what I’d learned: that true contentment isn’t found in the pursuit of tomorrow, but in the power of the present--the power of now. “Okay, boy,” I told him, laughing and tugging on his toy. “Let’s play…” ~Karina Garrison
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