Fr. T.O. Sebastian
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he most beautiful gift you can give to yourself is the gift of the present. The past is past and no amount of regret can alter it. The future is not.:yet a reality. The only thing you have is the present. If you were to miss the present by living in the past or in the future you have missed the whole of your life. If you are living in the past you are either living in regrets or living in the past glory. None of them can alter your situation today. If you are living ip the future. you can only build castles in lhe air. since future is not there before you. The only reality availabl~e to you is the reality of the present what is here and nbw present before you. It is with these present realities that you have to deal with. However bad may be the past, it is over. It is no more there. It should not be allowed to haunt you like a ghost. However threatening may be the future, it has not yet come. Therefore you are left with the present to handle, to manage and make best of it.You begin to enjoy life when you begin to walk into the present. Your life becomes simple when you focuss on the things that are happening here and now before you. You have more energy left in you when you encounter only the problems of today. To-day is the day for you. When you concentrate on the day’s work, you become more effective. When you have lived out the day you become more refreshed. Put away the burdens of the past.. You should not carry on your back the unwanted luggage, nor should you bum up your ammunition before the battle has started. The best gift you give to yourself is the gift of the present. If you ~~t to experience more the gift of the present, you should withdraw yourself to a
lonely ,place. There pick a spot where no one can easily disturb you. Sit down , there quietly. Shut off your mind to all other thoughts, plans, worries and anxiety. .J ust be present to yoursel f and be present to what is before you, here and now. It may be the beautiful flowers blooming before you. You may, be hearing the chirping of birds in the nearby thicket. You may watch the running streams or the whispering brooks. You may look at the majestic snow -capped mountain peaks, nestling in the sun with all their majesty and greatness. Finally you will be hearing sounds you never heard or seeing things that you never saw. You then begin to appreciate the richness of the present.
Now you understand the vulue of being in the present. Now you begin to enjoy the- work you do. You will now begin to do things more effectively than before. Your focus must be directed to what is right rather than what wrong. By focusing on what is right, get you the energy to tackle what is wrong: Whenever you find yourselfwandering in the past or straying out into the future, recall yourself to the present. It is here that the battle of life is going on. Do not run away into the past or escape into the future. But face it in the present. You will see what difference it can make.
