As we hiked, I couldn’t keep up the pace I could have managed years before. I wasn’t used to the altitude, combined with the slippery upward slope. I toted my camera and paused often, either to take a break or take a photo. Instead of focusing on the pace I couldn’t manage, I focused on the one I could manage. And that pace invited me to see, hear, and experience the hike in a way I would have missed with a quicker pace.

I paused to allow my heart rate to slow. As my heart rate became steady, I savored the quiet that comes along with a snowy day on a lightly-traveled trail high in the mountains. More than my heart rate became steady. It was as if my soul took a deep breath and reset with tranquility. More than the air was crisp, clean, and clear. So was my mind and my heart.

Instead of getting discouraged that I couldn’t do what I once had and might not have again, I took a step back and enjoyed what I had in front of me. As I did, I realized how important being present in the present truly is in the pursuit of God’s peace and provision.

After all, I need to accept what He provides today, or I’ll miss out.