Jesus says to us, "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before all, so that people can see your loving works, and give glory to our Creator in Heaven." What a beautiful invitation! Yet sometimes we forget to shine. It is as if we are walking around asleep, or even, in a way, not quite alive.

Thich Nhat Hanh has a suggestion about how we can wake up. It sounds so simple, and it truly is, and yet, again, we forget how easy our awakenings can be. "We must practice resurrection, and this is an everyday practice. With an in-breath, you bring your mind back to your body. In this way, you become alive in the here and now. Joy, peace, and happiness are possible. You have an appointment with life, an appointment that is in the here and now."

"It is necessary to come back to the present moment in order to touch life in a deep way. We all have the ability to walk in the Kingdom of God, to walk in the Pure Land of Buddha every day. You have all you need... and with a little bit of practice, you can generate the energy of mindfulness within you, just like lighting a lamp. Once you have become truly alive, take a step and you will enter the Pure Land. You will enter into the Kingdom of God."

"The Kingdom of God is not a mere notion. It is a reality that can be touched in everyday life. The Kingdom of God is now or never, and we all have the ability to touch it--not only with our minds, but with our feet."

Quotations are from The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh, pages 20-21.