Photo was taken at Ballincollig, Co.Cork (Irl)

Kim Broderick with her picture that came 2nd in a recent photo competition. The flower on its own may look ordinary but the butterfly resting on it makes it an absolute gem.

Thought on Tuesday – October – 25/10/2011

‘When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, then our understanding of what is going on deepens and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanb

Last night the Chaplaincy Team in UCC organised a talk on ‘The Miracle of Mindfulness’. The Honan Chapel where it took place was packed to capacity, with queues waiting to get in. Mindfulness is the ability to appreciate the present moment. We get so caught up with stuff from our past and looking ahead, that we forget the most precious moment of all which is now. The pace of life is so hectic that we are often forced out of taking time to be still and quiet. The word ‘meditation’ may put some off thinking that it is a bit weird, unusual, the stuff of a few, out of touch or whatever. Much more important would be to call it time to quieten down. It is pressing the brake gently, slowing ourselves down and trying to quieten for a short period of time. This is at the heart of the Angelus each evening at 6pm. It crosses all boundaries and faith denominations. It only lasts a minute but may be the only minute in a day when we can stop, quieten, pray, take a deep breath and hold whatever is going on for us there and then. We so often get distracted by hundreds of thoughts that cross our mind in any short period of time, making moments for quiet time difficult. The ability to focus on our breathing will always pull us into the present moment. God’s most precious gift to us is the present moment. It is up to us to make the most of it.