The Paradox of Time and Presence

Time is often described as an illusion and a paradox. If you subscribe to the spiritual idea that now is the only moment that exist, then, in theory, time doesn’t really exist. The past, present, and future are all the same.

But.

Accepting this concept doesn’t give you a free pass to be late. It is ironic to find that in many spiritual communities where living in the present is emphasised, chronic lateness is common and even tolerated. If you’ve ever attended a spiritual event, you may have witness this firsthand: you arrive on time, but the session doesn’t begin until the latecomers finally show up.

When you are consistently late, you’re not truly present. You’ve made a commitment to be somewhere at a certain time, but by arriving late, you break that agreement, not just with others, but with yourself. More than that, habitual lateness reflects a deeper pattern of being stuck in the past, avoiding responsibilities, or disregarding other people’s time.

Imagine making dinner plans with a friend at 7 pm. You show up on time, but they arrive at 7:30 without apology. In that moment, your time has been disrespected, and you’re forced to adjust to their timeline. Now scale this up. When lateness becomes a habit, it repeatedly pulls others out of their own present moment, forcing them to accommodate delays.

Conversely, if you’re always early and find yourself waiting for things to start, you’re living ahead of yourself. Instead of being in the now, you are stuck in a state of anticipation, feeling like you have to fill time, or even kill time. In a way, this is just as much of a disconnect from the present moment as being late.

Lateness and earliness both carry energetic meanings:

• Chronic lateness suggests inertia, sluggishness, or a lack of enthusiasm.
• Always being early can signal stress, anxiety, or a compulsion to stay ahead.

When latecomers arrive, those who were already present are forced to pause and wait for them to catch up. This dynamic is more than an inconvenience, it’s an unspoken energy drain. The group’s focus is disrupted, and time that could have been spent in flow is instead spent accommodating delays.

If you value being present, then honoring time is a reflection of that commitment. Being on time isn’t about rigid scheduling. It’s about integrity, respect, and alignment with the present moment.

The paradox of time is that time is both everything and nothing. But if you claim to live in the now, your actions need to match your words. Showing up on time is one of the simplest and most spiritually significant ways to demonstrate that you are truly present.