Embracing the present moment By Fr. Peter Iwuala

This moment is all you have. While you may dwell on the past or fret about the future, the truth is that you spend every moment of your life in the present. However, many people struggle to fully appreciate and embrace the present moment for various reasons. Some individuals obsess over the pursuit of recognition and wealth, believing that achieving these goals will guarantee their happiness and fulfillment. Feelings of regret, discontent, or anxiety about the future may consume others. However, the reality is that both recognition and wealth are intangible, impermanent objectives that distract individuals from embracing the significance of the present.

Every individual in this world will face death, and the knowledge of this inevitability can often be a paralyzing factor. However, the notion of recognition as a form of transcendence from death is an absurd concept. It is illogical to link immortality with recognition, as recognition is only relevant within the realm of the living. The validation that recognition provides will also vanish once an individual passes away.

The deceased individual will be completely unaware of any recognition he or she receives. As a result, the pursuit of recognition in an attempt to achieve a form of immortality is based on a false assumption of the eternal significance of recognition. Similarly, we can regard the pursuit of philanthropy as an attempt to achieve recognition beyond death by creating a lasting legacy. However, this would also be an absurd notion, since true philanthropy cannot exist without personal desire. In addition, recognition is only secondary to the primary motive of wealth and material gain. Therefore, we can conclude that philanthropy, unless pursued for its own sake without the desire for personal gain, would not provide a sense of fulfillment or significance. In fact, “true” recognition, or the attainment of recognition that is inspired by deserving qualities, is longer-lasting and more omnipotent than “mere” recognition. However, the prospect of deserving recognition upon death would be contingent on living a life of authenticity and virtue, and the pursuit of recognition for such qualities would not be based on vanity but rather on a realization and appreciation of such values.

Do everything that you can to live in the moment. Peace!