Present Preparation

Enjoying what we have now

A Backpack. Photo by Wiser by the Mile on Unsplash

I still believe, as I have written previously, that it is wise and necessary to Be Prepared for contingencies. But I also recognize the dangers of being so concerned about the Future, that we fail to appreciate and live fully in the Present.

There is the old parable about the guy who spent all his life putting things off until all circumstances would be perfect — only to be surprised, coming to the end of his life, to realize that he hadn’t lived it! None of us wants to have that carved on our tombstone.

We find that it’s a real balancing act. We are walking a tightrope between two extremes.

And I really mean it when I say “we.” Any person who thinks he is better than every other human being is just fooling himself. This is, most likely, one of many lessons we have come here to learn.

My own personal experience has been that things have worked out best when I just went along with what Life was prompting me to do. Some years ago, an old friend told me that it always seemed to him that I had planned things out really well for myself. This left me gobsmacked! “Really?” I replied. “It’s always seemed to me that I just wound up doing whatever was most obvious I had to do. Sometimes that was in accordance with my plans. Often, it was not.”

Perspective.

I’m working on a good metaphor for this concept. Let’s say that it would be like getting on a plane to an undisclosed destination, but having a clean set of underwear and an all-weather jacket in your backpack. As well as sunglasses and a nice cushion to use on stone benches, to protect your bony old ass.

Totally clueless about where this is going to take you. But having some basic supplies on hand to get you through the first couple of weeks.

Having faith that everything will proceed from there.

And, most likely, it will.