Ten years before Oprah found Eckhard Tolle and started extolling virtures of “the present moment” via 10 Monday night classes full of way too much SKYPING (you can down load them here,) Jacob Needleman moved many of us to examine just what the hell we were doing with the time in our lives and our souls.
Bestselling author of Money and the Meaning of Life, Needleman is a sower of spiritual seeds. He’s also extremely down to earth. But not in the time-saving way. He would not be pleased (nor impressed) to hear about some our latest time-saving technological gadgetry. Before you set out to fix your time-scarcity problem, Needleman wants you to first “think really hard.” (He’s a philosopher.)
Time and the Soul’s simple opening – “once upon a time” – might sound like it’s headed into one of those droll workplace metaphor books where we have to hang in with middle manager Steve’s life for a whopping 100 pages before much benefit is derived. But Needleman gets right to it – “there is a life I wish to live.”
Turns out he doesn’t want to change any of the people or events, nor does he want his wished-for life to have different outcomes. He wants his actual life; the same life he is living but with one great difference: a difference in the experience of time.
People I work with are accomplished, talented, smart (often business-brilliant). They are also rushed, too too busy, overwhelmed and frustrated – with themselves and their lives. They are part angry and part desperate as they try to function in the compartment of time-deprived. Balance is a stupid word for them. They don’t even laugh at it anymore. They ignore it.
There’s a sense that even with all the best intentions and efforts they can muster, still they have been drawn into an unreal life – one they didn’t wish for.
How do we experience time so it is not the enemy robbing us of the joy of life? How do we get out from under time’s mercy? How can we “breathe” in our lives and still be high achieving, accomplished people?
Ideas alone are not enough to help us confront our problem with time; but ideas, thoughtfully pondered and attended to with an open heart, can properly jolt even the fiercest and fastest moving executive. So here’s one – Needlemean says that “seeing one’s life” can allow a new kind of fear to enter us. And with that …”a new question about time, a completely new question.”
Sometimes “seeing one’s life” is easier by looking back. Let’s imagine you are 24 again (and if you are 24, be 16). What kind of car were you driving? What was your relationship status? What are you trying to do with your life?
The first two questions merely paint the picture of a moment in time. It’s the third question that’s the stinker. Make Oprah and Eckhart happy. Apply the power of NOW. It’s now. What are you trying to do with your life?
If life is living you, perhaps you need a new relationship with time. Needleman is a wise, authentic guide. When your spiritual quest feels a bit dry, check him out. He’ll help you remember who you were.
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