I have just read the most amazing book by Bishop F X Nguyen van Thuan who was imprisoned in Vietnam for years for his faith. Whilst still in prison himself, he heard of someone who, on his release from prison, said that he had spent most of his life waiting.

This Bishop determined not to do the same. He would not put his life on hold, but would make the most of every moment. He would use his time in prison to write letters to his churches. The first chapter of his book is called "living in the present moment" and I love these words: "For you the most beautiful moment is the present moment... Live it in the fullness of the love of God. Your life will be wonderfully beautiful if it is like a crystal made up of millions of these moments. Do you see that it is easy?"

Later he says "... I will make the most of the opportunities that present themselves each day to carry out ordinary actions in an extraordinary way. Jesus, I will not wait; I live in the present moment, filling it with love. The straight path is formed of millions of unified points. My life is also made up of millions of seconds and minutes joined together. I will perfectly order these points so that my path will be straight. I will live each moment perfectly and life will be holy. The way of hope is made of up small steps of hope; the life of hope is made of up brief moments of hope."