Today and Tomorrow

Ernest Hemingway in his book Farewell to Arms described how once he was sitting all by himself as he watched the ants busily working under his feet, and then after a while he stamped out the ants under his feet. Tomorrow, we could become those ants. Today, living in the now ushers us into grateful living, preparing us for tomorrow, which is just another day.

Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind said at the end of the movie: “Tomorrow is another day.”

Yes, tomorrow is another day, but that day may or may never come. We always choose to believe that it will come. The truth of the matter is that it might never come. Our self-delusion that it will come may give us expectations that often lead us into doing many things to anticipate that our expectations will be fulfilled. This is one of the reasons why many of us have a compulsive mind, such that the mind is forever shuffling between the past and the future,  except staying in the present, which is the only reality; the past was gone, and the future is yet to come.

Living in the now is wisdom in living.  Living in the now is the consciousness of being. Today is now, and mindfulness of the present is realization not only that tomorrow is another day but also that it might never come. This mental consciousness may make us appreciative of what we already have and grateful for not getting what we deserve. Have you ever thought that human birth is unique? Fathoming that mystery may be enough to make you become more grateful for and thankful of your being. 

Tao wisdom focuses on mindfulness, that is, living in the present moment, which is the reality of living. By the same token, Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will take care of itself. Living in the now is basic human and fundamental Biblical wisdom. Do you really believe in that? More importantly, do you put that in your everyday life and living?

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau