The Present Moment and the Enneagram Part 4
June 19, 2026
The Present Moment and the Enneagram Part 4
It was 1:00 am and we had just arrived at the hotel after a long and tiring drive. The lone night clerk took care of our very late registration. There were lots of details we needed to know, such as how and where to park, if the parking ticket stayed in the car or not, and of course how to get to our room.
The young man must have worked there a long time because he rattled off the directions seemingly without taking a breath: “Pull your car around to the barricade at the parking lot’s entrance, tap your hotel key on the ticket machine, get your ticket, keep it with you, drive around to a back lot and let the security man in a black car know you’re there. After you park, you will see a door to a wing of the hotel. Tap your key on the entry pad next to the door, come in, come down the hall, enter the lobby, get your bags, take hallway B next to the ice machine, take the elevator on the hall to the second floor; but first tap your key on the control panel so the elevator will work. Before all that, go out to your car and write down the make, model, year, and license plate number on this form. Then bring the form right back to me.”
In my fatigue, my response to him was, “Do you have these directions printed for your guests ... You said them so fast, I couldn’t really take it all in.” He replied, “No sir we do not have a printed sheet … I was very clear with my directions to you.” My head was spinning with all the responses I could give this young man. I thought about putting him in his place or asking for the name of the hotel manager. I was exasperated.
Instead, I took a deep breath, left my mind chatter and dropped into my soul. I was now in the flashlight beam of the present. It illuminated for me the fact that this young man was not even aware of how fast he was talking, how tired we were, and that it would have been a good idea to have the detailed directions in print. I said to him from my soul, “I know you were clear, but not every weary traveler is as alert as you … please say the directions again slowly.” He did.
The next morning the young clerk was at the desk after his night shift. Along with him was the hotel manager. The young man said that he had been thinking of my suggestion and had talked it over with his manager. They thought a printed sheet of directions would be a good idea.
Fortunately, presence saved me from contaminating my experience with the young man. In truth, I have often been the recipient of someone else’s presence when I was not fully conscious of my presence or the lack of it. Maybe this young man received help from the grace through which only my presence could give.
Spiritual Practice
In the next encounter you have with anyone, be alert to the conversation. Are you present, are you thinking ahead, or are you preoccupied with something else? When someone is not present to you, try becoming alert to them and their situation. If they irritate you, maybe you could, in presence, give them some grace. Or you could be so present to them that they are awakened from their sleep.
Inquiry
Are you present now?
Prayer
Dear God, It was my good fortune and by your grace, that in the liminal space of decision, I left my head and came home to my soul. I thank you. Amen.
