Mark walks through the door and says, “There’s a visitor for you.” He raises an eyebrow and I glance at my old t-shirt and yoga pants, wondering who might soon witness them. But when I go outside I don’t see anyone. Then I look down and there, in a cardboard box, is a turtle the size of a dinner plate.

I laugh and Mark tells me how he found this wanderer. I lean in and offer a proper welcome, “Hello, Mr. Turtle.” He instinctively pulls inward and I raise him until I can look him right in his brown eyes, “It will be okay now,” I say. This is not the first turtle I’ve held. It’s more likely the hundredth, maybe even the thousandth.

I spent my childhood summers catching turtles out of a golfcourse pond with my best friend, temporarily bringing them home to a baby pool, then releasing them again. (I’m not advocating this as a modern hobby. But it was the eighties and we also drank out of water hoses, frequently rode in the car without seatbelts and ate cookie dough with raw eggs in it. So there you go.)

In this week’s More than Small Talk podcast with Suzie Eller, Jennifer Watson and I the confession question is, “What’s a moment you were fully present? Describe that to us.” When we recorded the episode I talked about turtle catching. And now I’m amused at God’s timing as I hold this turtle as a grown-up. Those childhood memories come back again–the sun on the water, the grass between my toes, the smell of summer, the distant sound of lawn mowers, the taste of watermelon when I got back home.

—

If you want a quick hack for being fully present it’s this:

Pause and notice all of your senses. Ask yourself…

What do I see?
What do I hear?
What do I smell?
What do I feel?
What do I taste?

Not only will this bring you into the present, research shows it will create a stronger memory.

—

I carry Mr. Turtle down to the fence surrounding the pond behind our house. I set him in the grass on the other side, pointing him toward the water. Then I let him go back to whatever turtles do.

I stand there for a moment, feeling grateful. I think again about how God said His name is “I am.” He’s not a past tense God. He’s not a future tense God. He’s a present tense God. And wherever I am right now, wherever you are, is the only place in all of history or this whole planet where God and us are at the very same time. That makes it holy ground.

So today let’s put down our phones and pick up the turtle or the toddler. Let’s turn away from the screen and toward the smiles of the people we love. Let’s set aside our lists and sit for a moment in the quiet so our souls can take a deep breath.

Let’s be fully present right here, right now, in this moment.

Gratefully,

Holley

More Help Being Fully Present:

– Listen to Episode 28 of More Than Small Talk: How to Be Fully Present.

– Use my devotional Hope Your Heart Needs to start your day being fully present with God.

Dear Younger Me,

You’re graduating and it feels like you know everything, or perhaps like you know nothing at all. What’s actually true is probably somewhere in the middle. So let’s just make a deal that we’ll always keep learning.

You’re fixated on the starting line of college or a career. But moving forward is not really about getting a job. You already have a job. It’s to become all God created you to be. You’ve had it since you drew in your first breath and you’ll have it until you release your last. Everything in between is just about assignments, different experiences that will help with the becoming.

Work of any kind can be a holy, sacred thing. It can be just as much worship as church singing on a Sunday morning. Sometimes maybe more. So don’t let anyone trick you into believing what you’re on earth to do can easily be printed on a business card or typed in neat lines on a resume. You are on this earth to be—which is really just another way of saying you’re here to love and be loved.

It is okay to have a lot to do, especially if it aligns with who you’re created to be and what you’re called to accomplish. But beware of being busy. Don’t hustle—you don’t have to. You are enough as you are and those who find you lacking will not be satisfied no matter how you stretch yourself to meet their expectations. Better to know that right away and let them go looking elsewhere for a human pretzel.

Also, there’s no use fighting who you are because it’s not going to change much. You’re only going to become more you. So lean into it. Pay attention to it. Your greatest strengths might be in the places you think you’re least likely to find them now.

A related side note: When it comes to who you choose to have in your life, pick quality over quantity. Know your worth—and only choose to let people deeply know you if they see it too.

Of all the folks who will come in and out of your life, you only get to keep two for the whole ride: yourself and Jesus. So it makes good sense to learn to treat yourself with the same courtesy you show others.

You are actually quite wonderful. Have the courage to start believing this because contrary to what you imagine, it will humble you. It will make you lift your hands in praise to the One who made you. And then extend those same hands to bless those around you. This does not seem like it would be true but in the upside-down Kingdom it is so.

“I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.” (Ps. 139:14 NCV)

You really are going to be okay. More than okay, actually.

I’m cheering for you…

XOXO

Holley

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Want More?

This post is an adapted excerpt from my book Fiercehearted: Live Fully, Love Bravely. Get a copy for all the graduates in your life today before they’re gone!

Also, listen to Episode 23 of the More than Small Talk Podcast: Dear Younger Me.