I'm in the market for some present tense; I'm on the…
““I'm in the market for some present tense; I'm on the lookout, shopping around, more so every year. It's a seller's market—do you think I won't sell all that I have to buy it? Thomas Merton wrote, in a light passage in one of his Gethsemane journals: "Suggested emendation in the Lord's Prayer: Take out 'Thy Kingdom come' and substitute 'Give us time!'" But time is the only thing we have been given, and we have been given to time. Time gives us a whirl. We keep waking from a dream we can't recall, looking around in surprise, and lapsing back, for years on end. All I want to do is stay awake, keep my head up, prop my eyes open, with toothpicks, with trees.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage reflects on the relentless passage of time and the human desire to seize it, using market metaphors and spiritual references to highlight urgency and awareness.
In simple terms: Time passes swiftly; we must stay alert.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate present‑moment awareness.
Themes
time
urgency
spirituality
consciousness
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily routine
- creative work
- meditation
- life planning
Key Concepts
Existentialism
mindfulness
temporal perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you practice staying present?
- What does “prop my eyes open” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Time cannot be controlled, only experienced.