I watched the movie “Next” several weeks ago. It is a 2007 movie based on Philip K. Dick’s short story titled “The Golden Man”. In “Next”, the main character, played by Nicolas Cage, can see 2 minutes into his own future – with the exception of a woman to whom he will become close.

But, my reason for bringing up the movie is a Nicolas Cage line that goes:

Here’s the thing about the future…every time you look at it, it changes…because you looked at it. And that changes everything”.

In the movie, this is illustrated by seeing, through the Cage character’s mind, various scenarios of the future.

But, in our real life, we do this also. We often project what “might” happen and base our current actions on this “future” scenario – …and that changes everything.

About 7 1/2 years ago I took my dog Zack to the vet. He had some swelling in his “armpits”. The vet found swelling in all of his lymph nodes. It suggested lymphoma – a deadly, fast growing cancer that typically kills dogs within 4-6 weeks of diagnosis. A test was scheduled to make a determination.

Right after that vet appointment, I had a massage appointment – a monthly indulgence with a masseuse who is a wonderful, compassionate woman and also a dog lover. I told her what was going on – we went ahead with the massage which I mostly cried through. Towards the end, she stopped and asked me to listen to her. Her words changed everything for me – she said: “You are grieving about something that has not yet happened. You might consider enjoying every day you have with Zack while he is in good health and save the grieving for when it does happen – if it does.”

And while it was lymphoma and I did ultimately lose Zack in 5 weeks – I learned a valuable lesson about the pitfalls of looking at the future. Not a day went by that I didn’t remember those words and they helped me release my fear, live with hope – the best thing I could do for my dog.

Now, I’m not saying we do no planning for the future. I am saying that it is important to live in the “now” and to live with “normalcy”. Now, when all seems uncertain and it is tempting to hang on to money and all that we have – Now is the time to live boldly, with “reckless confidence”, believing in a good future. The hoarding of anything will only add to current problems. Today is the day to enjoy, to embrace good, to work, to love, to live.

Matthew 6:34: “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself”.

Matthew 6:27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

“We know nothing of tomorrow; our business is to be good and happy today”. –Sydney Smith