The Now of who we are

We hear a lot of talk about ‘staying in the Now’. The key is our ability to focus fully on our present task.
My friend Mike was good friends with a very famous musician. He went to see him in concert one evening and brought his boss. Mike’s boss was a huge fan and really wanted to meet this rock star so they went backstage just before the gig started. Mike was a bit dubious about introducing his boss to this famous musician; after all, what do you say to the guy who has conquered the world musically just before he goes on to play to a crowd of 70,000 people? But his fears were unfounded because it turned out that the superstar went to school with his boss’s brother.
The pair spoke easily of mutual acquaintances, old teachers and happenings that were common to their upbringing. After a few minutes of conversation, the superstar was tapped on the shoulder by the stage manager. He said goodbye, went straight on stage and did his rock and roll thing. What most astounded Mike was how this man could switch from a casual conversation about his school days to a world class, world-beating performance in the space of minutes.
Not all of us have the opportunity or the inclination to perform in front of 70,000 people but each and every one of us has an opportunity to perform as the person we want to be. By staying in contact with our real present we are allowing ourselves to remain consistent and not be swayed by the past or a yet-to-happen future.
Now we can have a determination that is not laboured by negative influences one way or another. We are dealing with the situation in the only time we can practice and perfect and readily tap in to the truthfulness of who we are.
As we move through different situations there is a coherence and direction that’s non-wavering. Now if we are changing a wheel on the side of the road, negotiating a business deal or competing in the Olympics, we are doing so with purposeful intent, all firmly anchored in the Now of who we are.