1-3-23 A Day In PTL Perrin’s Life
Welcome to day two of A Day In My Life!
This scripture came up in my morning devotions. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 Do you know how hard it is to be still? How does one still the mind that is busy planning the day ahead, trying to figure out how everything will fit in? Or still the body that’s ready to jump up to tackle the next chore, and the next. It can be done. Here’s how I experienced living in the moment today.
First, an introduction. My adopted daughter Natalia is a little younger than our daughter Dyana. As a child in Pennsylvania, Natalia spent a lot of time with us, including some weeks when staying at home was not an option. Her home atmosphere was sometimes intolerable, and we were her sanctuary. Over the years, we went separate ways. She lived a colorful, exciting life, but always under the shadow of childhood trauma. A number of years ago, we discovered that we lived minutes from each other in Florida. She’s family and always will be, and she feels the same about us. She calls me “Mom,” and I love her like one of our own.
Today, Natalia and I went to see Avatar, The Way of Water, in 3D at an iMax theater in downtown West Palm Beach. Watching a movie like that is living in the moment. It was my third time seeing it, but I never once thought ahead from one scene to the next because I was totally immersed in every scene as it happened. Life beyond the movie ceased to exist. My entire being was on Pandora with the Sully family, exploring the beauty of that world. The characters captured my emotions and my heart thrilled with a sense of awe at the life in Pandora’s oceans. Exciting conflict, surprising nuances in the antagonist, strong emotions, and growth among family members kept my full attention for more than three hours.
When we left the theater, the sun had just set and music and light poured from the surrounding restaurants. This tree, in full Pandora colors, caught my eye. I took it as another kiss from God.
Living in the moment is like reading a good book. Total immersion. Focusing on the now. Life doesn’t need to be full of drama and colors, plot and compelling characters, to be enjoyed in the moment. Being still can simply mean being peaceful, not filled with anxiety, not thinking ahead to what comes next, or what to say next.
So that was my today. I got no writing done, other than this blog, but I got some quality living done.
Blessings!
PTL Perrin Writes... 
What a nice day in your life Patty. The one thing I haven’t been good at is keeping up with other member’s blogs. I’m working on it!
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Hi, Shirley! How nice of you to drop by! You have plenty to keep your attention these days, so it means a lot to me that you’re visiting my blogs now.
Blessings!
Patty
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Hi Patty! What a lovely day you had with someone you cherish. It doesn’t get any better than that, now does it? Being still, especially mentally still, is such a challenge in today’s world. This is why I MUST meditate everyday. Having said that, I too love getting immersed in a movie or good book; it’s such a healthy escape from some of the nonsense going on these days.
Blessings to you and yours,
Donna M Atwood
D. M. Atwood
www.https://dmatwood.com
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Hi, Donna! I admire your ability to meditate. The closest I get is during my devotions, when I read the Bible and pray. I enjoy movies, but few have captivated me like James Cameron’s Avatar, both the original and the new one. It’s as if Pandora is my home, and I miss it. I often wonder what Heaven will be like. I have a feeling we’ll be kept busy. Perhaps the Lord will assign me to a planet or moon like Pandora. Blessings!
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Good morning, Patty! Your photograph is spectacular. I, too, embrace signs from God. I am grateful for every little thing He shows me. I often find myself trying to help Him help me instead of just being still and knowing. I’m so happy Natalie has you as her safe place.🤗
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Thanks, Linda! I know what you mean by wanting to help God when we pray for something. I’m sure that’s why He gave us that verse! “Get out of the way, my precious, ambitious daughter. Let me show you what I can do!” My interpretation. May He show you plenty of signs of His love for you, Linda! Blessings!
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Wonderful verse, Patty! Putting it in my prayer chest!
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Living in the moment is what I call finding the flow in your life. When that happens, life goes by.
I love the Scripture. It is one of my favorites.
Thank you for the glimpse into your life. I relished it.
Shalom aleichem
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Thanks, Pat. I love being in the moment, and when I start my day in the Word and devotions, the Lord opens many such moments to me. The older I get, the more I see. We’re like butterflies. We have to struggle to break out of the cocoon before we can fly. Old cliché, but an appropriate one. Blessings!
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I love that first you shared. It is one of my favorites, and a constant goal and challenge of mine. Our human brains are wired a certain way to be reactive and I once read that that is just a throwback to our caveman days. I try to meditate. Music helps, and that is usually in the evening when I’m trying to that demons of my day or my to-do list for tomorrow leave my mind. I have heard Avatar is a great movie. I haven’t been to a theater since early 2020. Stupid pandemic!
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Thanks, Pamela! You’re so right about our human wiring. We have a lot to overcome to get to a place of peace. I hope you get to see Avatar in the theater, but if you don’t it’ll surely stream somewhere. Disney plus has the first Avatar, and they’ll surely add this one to the lineup. Blessings!
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Wise words you shared with us, to live in the moment. We tend to forget to savor each experience and focus on our troubles. My mind rarely quiets, but I should push the anxiety aside and enjoy what I’m doing. Right now, I’m replying to an article I liked reading and enjoying myself—tiny steps.
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Thanks, Susanne! Tiny steps are a great beginning, and I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Getting to a place of living in the moment is a process. I’ve been through many troubles and periods of anxiety and despair, but learning to focus on God has lifted me up and out of them. Troubles come and go, even now, but learning gratitude and spending daily time with the Lord has changed me. He added color to my life. Praying He adds color and light to yours. Blessings.
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Love it! Love it! Love it! If this is how you get me to your blog, then you keep right on inviting me over! This was spectacular, Patty! Ohhhhh, how your time spent today with Natalia must have felt like a huge hug to your heart! So happy for you! And that photo, oh, that photo was like a glorious blue and enchanting light, wagging its finger, drawing me closer to it. It also gave me the same feel as the Christmas photo did from your Day 1 post!
Thank you for sharing… your day, Natalia, the brief mention of Dyana. (Happy sigh) Do I have to leave?
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Oh, Nonnie. You’ve made my day with these comments! Yes, time spent with any of my children is like a warm blanket on a cold day. Natalia’s hugs come straight from her loving heart. So do Dyana’s when we get together. I’m a blessed woman! And now you know why blue, in any of its shades, is my favorite color! I’ll bet there’s a lot of it in Heaven. Come visit anytime! Blessings.
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You described mindfulness perfectly, Patty! I feel the same way when I watch movies or read a book. The whole outer world ceases to exist, and I am one with the movie/book. I’ve gotten better at bringing those moments into my life. I practice it often, and it is very soothing. I’m happy you had a great time today. 🙂
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Thanks, Yvette! As I look back at various stages in my life, I’m amazed at this stage where I’m finding the peace of living in the moment. The journey of life grows us, doesn’t it? Keep practicing mindfulness. Practice stillness, and look for God as you do.
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