Every moment is a chance to turn it all around.
Given the state of our world and the challenges that face humanity, it is more difficult than ever to have hope. But there is a very simple reason to hope. That reason is this: every moment is another chance to turn it all around.
Saint Mary Magdalene was transformed by this hope.
When we first meet her in the Gospels, Mary Magdalene was possessed by, not one, but seven demons. Imagine what that would be like. Imagine how afraid she must have been, and how difficult it was to dream for the future. But then everything changed: She met Jesus, and he freed her from the demons.
Before this moment, Mary Magdalenge was a woman tormented and trapped by evil. After this moment, she went on to follow Jesus, stand witness at his Crucifixion, and she even became the first person that Jesus appeared to after his Resurrection!
We don’t know too much more about Mary Magdalene's life, but the details we do know tell the story of a woman who turned it all around. No matter what you’re facing today, no matter what you feel trapped by, that can happen for you too. Every moment of your life is a chance to encounter Jesus in a new way. Every moment is a chance to turn it all around.
The only problem is that oftentimes, we don’t like to really live in the present moment. Maybe you have a question, a problem, or a situation you wish you could just be over and done with. Maybe you’re just waiting for something to happen—maybe you’ve been waiting for a long time. It is difficult not to focus on the future or linger on the past.
But the life of Mary Magdalenge teaches us a life-changing lesson: the present moment is where God works and it only takes one moment to turn it all around. That’s why it’s so essential for us to practice present-moment awareness.
Present-moment awareness can be achieved in any number of simple ways. One of the most effective ways is to ask yourself, "God, what do you think I should do in this situation?" If you have the courage to ask that question, it will transform your life.
You cannot change one moment of the past, so grasp the present moment and change the future. There is power in this moment. Use it, direct it, harness it.
What will you do with the power of this moment?
