Beyond Living in the Moment: Taking Responsibility for Your Tomorrow

The future is just around the corner, and anyone has the power to shape it.

As a child, I was captivated by science fiction shows. One of my favorites was Star Trek, which can dissolve and reappear in different places or even different times.

Another show I enjoyed was a short-lived two-nighter called The Time Tunnel. It depicted two men who would run through a spiral funnel and find themselves in various periods. They could end up in a nuclear holocaust in the 25th Century or land amid the French Revolution.

A common theme in all of these shows was the fear of disturbing the past, as it could potentially alter the future. This same theme can be seen in the last Indiana Jones movie.

However, someone once observed:

“When people talk about traveling to the past, they worry about radically changing the present by doing something small. But barely anyone in the present rarely thinks that they can radically change the future by doing something small.”

But the truth is, each person is their own time traveler, capable of shaping the events of the future through their actions today.

The choices a parent makes can be the difference between a child achieving great things or resorting to violence. Today’s actions can prevent a depressed individual from taking a fatal step that cannot be undone.

Rarely do I pause and contemplate this central idea. What kind of future do I desire? We have all been conditioned to live in the moment, without giving much thought to the future.

Yet, what we eat and how we move today sets in motion patterns and habits that determine our future health or disability. The books we choose or neglect to read shape our mental and intellectual well-being. A soul does not wither overnight; it withers through the neglect of daily spiritual nourishment.

If we desire a better tomorrow, we must start taking action today.

Noah dedicated himself to building the ark, nail by nail, every morning for 75 years. Our survival today is a result of those days of hard work.

In a single day, Saul of Tarsus embarked on a journey to Damascus, unaware of how far-reaching its consequences would be.

Abraham listened to God’s voice and took a step forward each day that eventually led him to Canaan. But those days led to so much more. Ultimately, they led to the coming of Christ.

Today has the power to open doors or slam them shut. Opportunities arise and fade away. A lifetime can be wasted by choosing not to do what is right.

Create momentum. Live your life in a way that earns you the reputation of a “future builder.”

This is something I must ask myself every day. Where will this lead in the future? I will never know unless I try.

In 1955, a courageous woman named Rosa Parks had had enough. After a long day of work, she wanted a peaceful bus ride home. However, in Montgomery, Alabama, buses were segregated. When Rosa boarded the bus, there was only one seat available, so she sat down. But she was not allowed to sit there because of her race. When the driver, James Blake, ordered her to stand, she refused.

That single act sparked a movement. It toppled a society, changed laws, and revolutionized thinking. It was just one day, but that one day changed everything.

So, what future will you create today?