Be Present
And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.
Abraham desired greater happiness, peace, and rest. He sought knowledge. He wanted to become more righteous. In time, he became what he sought—a High Priest, a rightful heir to promised blessings.
Lately, my life has felt very full. Work has been demanding—some weeks close to fifty hours—and I am tired. At the same time, I am pursuing my dream of becoming a leadership coach for women in STEM. The iPEC study modules are extensive, and building a business requires more than I anticipated. I have poured countless hours into this effort.
I can see progress. I feel closer to the life I ultimately want—freedom from the corporate world so I can spend more time with my children and Carl, serve in my community, attend the temple, learn, draw, and create. The vision of that future is beautiful.
But living in the middle of it all is exhausting.
The days move quickly. I work. The kids are at school. Carl works. On good days, work ends at five. I cook dinner. We eat. Maybe we watch a movie. Then we sleep and begin again. Sometimes it feels as though life is being postponed—real living deferred until retirement. The thought of waiting until sixty-five to fully live feels heavy.
This morning, I prayed for guidance and asked God to show me my life’s purpose. As I read Abraham’s words, one word stood out clearly in my mind: Present.
That is my purpose—to be present.
I have been chasing better opportunities, better work, better service, better relationships. In doing so, I have sometimes missed what is already here. The Lord seems to be teaching me to find what I seek within the life I already have.
To ask: What matters most right now?
When I speak with my daughter, my husband, a friend—am I truly listening? Am I fully there? Can I receive the gift of this moment, even with its imperfections? Can I thank God simply for being alive, for the privilege of experiencing both joy and strain?
Planning and envisioning are valuable. They give direction. They provide a north star. But focusing only on a distant goal can blind me to the beauty along the way—the small connections that make the future meaningful.
Luke 10: 38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary chose to sit at the Savior’s feet and listen. Martha was busy serving, distracted by many necessary tasks. The Lord gently reminded her that “few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
Many things are worthy of effort. Work is necessary. Study is worthwhile. Building a business is good. But relationships—the quiet act of being fully present—are the better part.
My prayer now is simple: that I may choose presence. That I may enjoy the blessings of today while working toward tomorrow. That I may see what matters most in each hour and have the courage to choose it.
May God grant me the wisdom to discern what is essential, and the strength to live it.