Article March 6, 2006 Issue

THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE IN THE 'NOW'

BY MARTHA SARVIS

MANY OF US are concern about the future. From global warming to unstable economies to threats of terrorism, the concerns seem reasonable. On a personal level, people often wish they knew how things were going to work out in their lives. But unlike reading a mystery novel, we can't flip to the last page for the answer. So we spend lots of time guessing and formulating various scenarios. Sometimes we're on the money, and sometimes we're not.

But we lose a very valuable thing—the present—when we spend time this way. To focus on tomorrow is to overlook the joy and happiness that are available today. And this obsessive eye on the future prevents us from taking advantage of the good today that can lead to even greater good tomorrow.

Recently I was concerned about the end of a temporary job and how it would impact my family financially. I kept trying to figure out a solution, but at the same time I kept wondering what would happen to us if I didn't come up with one. I was overwhelmed with worry about the future.

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WANTED: patience and humility