Now has no Shadow

The Shadow of Now

I wash dishes  

And plan to swim tomorrow

 Or maybe hike.

What would it be like

To see a friend for lunch?

Do I need new shoes?

Perhaps a shirt?

Don’t forget

to pay the bills.

I pick up a dish,

The last to dry,

And realize

I lived

The shadow of now.

I was not really there.

Did I stop to notice

the shine of clean?

Did I remember

the joy

of service

for my family?

Did I see

the love I gave

And honor

the sense of order

            articulated by me

            as God’s expression.

In full light of perfect presence,

Joy shines

             Exuberant!

Now is full

            of the best of good.

What could be better?

But yesterday’s argument

            With my mother

Cast its long shadow.

How wrong she was.

The gloom builds

And shady fingers

Reach to cover Now’s light

And maybe tomorrow

I cannot do the work.

There is so much.

So many burdens.

“What if”

sends a shadow

Lurking from the future.

Where nothing has happened

But fear.

Or anticipation

            of tomorrows good

That has not come to pass.

The shadow of the past

            joys, regrets, failure, and successes

            casts the long past noon silhouette

To shade the now.

Competing ghost of future possibilities

            potentialities of good

            worries for hurt or harm

            throw darkness

Over the vibrancy of Now.

Now has no shadow.

The glow of present good

            shines from within

            eliminating all possible

            shade or gloom.

Now is always glorious.

Be in the light of now.

It has no shadow.