I AM

I was regretting the past
And fearing the future…
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
“MY NAME IS I AM.” He paused.

I waited. He continued,
“When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I was.
“When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I will be.
“When you live in this moment,
it is not hard.
I am here.

My name is I AM.”

—Helen Mallicoat

Quoted in Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 136