The future is always fascinating to me. It makes me nervous for the unknown and excited all at the same time. I daydream about the future…I think about things like this:

Where will I be living?

Will I change careers?

Who will be my mentor?

Will I finally get rid of the Buick?

What will my first house look like? And will it have a garden?

Who will be my best friend in five years?

What kind of dog will I get? (Oh wait I know this one, a Goberian and his name will be Wolf!)

How will I be making an impact in the world around me?

Will I finally write a book?

Inspired by the book Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist, I recognize that I need to do a better job of celebrating the present. Every day, every moment, and every breath is a gift that God has given me. I love thinking about the future, but if I focus too much on the future, I forget to enjoy every moment of today. It’s easy to get wrapped up into focusing always towards the next step in your journey. It’s like you find yourself constantly looking up a mountain top, but never taking the time to enjoy the view around you, the flowers growing on the ground, the wind in your face, the sun on your back, the company walking beside you, and the path behind you to see how far you have come.

Hindsight helps you to understand the past and how it has brought you to the destination that you have arrived today and how it shaped where you are going. It’s meant to be understood in order for you to let go and move forward in the here and now. Too much focus in the past can be hindering to living in the moment.

My challenge to you and myself is to take the time to see what today will bring and find joy in every moment of your day instead of constantly looking towards tomorrow, this weekend’s to-do list, and the future. Shauna Niequist challenges to not constantly wait for the next big moment to happen in your life, but realize that today is your big moment.

What big moments that occurred today can you celebrate?

You are more than dust and bones.

You are spirit and power and image of God.

And you have been given today. – Shauna Niequist