Galen Pearl

Galen Pearl

Galen Pearl

The Roll Call of Life

Many of us have had the experience of hearing our name called as a teacher or group leader goes down the list. The typical response is usually “Here!” or “Present!” Sometimes this is accompanied by a raised hand to help identify ourselves. The person calling the roll is not asking anything of us at that moment other than to verify that we are there.

Life is like that, I think. Life calls us in each moment to show up, just as we are. Life is not judging our past or requiring promises for the future. Life is not asking us to become different or better. Life is inviting us to simply be who we are – willingly, bravely, unabashedly, joyfully, wonderingly, gratefully, humbly, delightedly, grandly, trustfully, completely.

Life calls our name with every breath. Are you here? Yes, I am here. I am present. I am showing up for my life. Each moment is too precious to be missed. But if I do look away, the next moment generously offers an opportunity to choose again, to enter the infinite vastness of this eternal instant.

Our appointment with life is in the present moment. The place of our appointment is right here, in this very place. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

6 thoughts on “The Roll Call of Life”

  1. Oh, I like this very much. Being is just a collection of moments in the present strung together to form what we call life. Whether we know it or not, we are raising our hands with each breath.

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