Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Guilt Is Concerned With the Past. Worry Is Concerned About the Future. Contentment Enjoys the Present.

Psychologist William Marston once asked three thousand people, "What have you to live for?"  He was shocked to discover that 94 percent of the people he polled were simply enduring the present while they waited for the future.  Some indicated they were waiting for "something" to happen--waiting for children to grow up and leave home, waiting for next year, waiting for another time to take a long-awaited trip, waiting for someone to die, or waiting for tomorrow.  They had hope, but no ongoing purpose to their lives!

Only 6 percent of the people identified relationships and activities in the present tense of their lives that they counted as valuable reasons for living!

The 94 percent would be wise to recall the words of this poem by an unknown author:

During all the years since time began,
Today  has been the friend of man;
But in his blindness and his sorrow,
He looks to yesterday and tomorrow.
Forget past trials and your sorrow.
There was, but is, no yesterday,
And there may be no tomorrow.

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
Philippians 4:11

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