Waking Up Slowly

From the flap:
For the threescore years and some change that I have been on this planet, I have operated like the George Harrison lyric, "If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there." Of course, I have a daily to-do list. But every morning I wake up and basically let daily circumstances affect my mood, my productivity, and my happiness. I suspect I am not alone.

If only I took my cue from my rescued Labrador friend, Maggie, who can capture a playful moment at the drop of a hat-er, toy. Just now, Maggie walked through the room, spotted her red, oversize squeaky bone, leapt through the air to grab it, and started a game. That is living in the moment.

Maggie’s ability to live fully and joyfully in the moment amuses and even inspires me. The sad reality is that I dismiss my canine friend’s talent to enjoy each moment. I rationalize her skill as entirely due to a lack of a calendar, a smartphone, and a spouse or significant other.

But is that true? Is my slavish addiction to performance, attention, and (gasp) devices robbing me of the joy, smiles, kindness, and affirmation that my heavenly Father desires for me-and for all of us-to enjoy each day?

We live in the most connected culture in the history of the world, but it’s arguably the most disconnected from God and one another. So today I embark on a journey to intentionally live more fully in the moment and to be more connected to God, others, and myself.

Is this goal even possible to achieve? Can a very old dog learn a pretty radical new trick to live more consistently in the moment?

-DAVE BURCHETT, from the Introduction