The “Oughts” of Life

It is hard to live in the present. The past and the future keep harassing us. The past with guilt the future would worries. So many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, confused, or, at least, ambivalent. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Guilt says: “You ought to have done something other than what you did ; You ought to have said something other than what you said. These “oughts” keep us feeling guilty about the path and prevent us from being fully present to the moment.

~~~ Henri Nouwen

It is hard to live in the present without the past and the future harassing us. Our past burdens us with guilt the future with worries. So many things have happened in our lives about which we feel uneasy, regretful, angry, or confused. And all these feelings are often colored by guilt. Nouwen tells us: “Guilt says: You ought to have done something other than what you did ; You ought to have said something other than what you said. These “oughts” keep us feeling guilty about the path and prevent us from being fully present to the moment.” We need to flee from this guilt.

When I was growing up, it seems that a lot of people had a plan for my life. When college came around there were people who knew without a doubt what I should pursue .Others knew what I ought to do, and if for some reason I disagreed they were disappointed and wanted me, by accident or design, to feel guilty. As you get older these things fade into the background only to be replaced by other “oughts,” but they continued to be the guilt producing hindrances of life.

The next great guilt producing ought is the future. What should I do to prepare for the future? Am I proactive enough to be truly prepared? Is my profession disappearing? These sorts of questions wreck happiness and productivity in the now. That is not what God wants for his creation. I am convinced of that beyond a doubt.

A few years ago Christian writer, Tony Campolo, wrote a book titled-Carpe Diem- Seize the Day. That is what our creator wants for us. He desires that we live each day to the fullest with optimism about the future and peace with the past. We must grab the day and live it for the glory of God and our own self being. We spend far too much time analyzing and not enough time living. The key is to grasp the idea that as we seek the kingdom of God all else will come clear. Our primary direction has to be looking toward a loving and forgiving God who forgives the past and holds the future. He told Jeremiah ,”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He went on to tell the exiles to prosper in the land where they were exiled.  We must accept the forgiveness of God , live the day, and not fear the future.

May God give you the strength to see life in such a way.

Prayer

Lord, I come to you in this time of fear and confusion and ask you to give me the strength to live this day to the fullest. Allow me to enjoy and relish the blessings that you have given me. Might I call upon your might to climb the hills and navigate the uneven ground that is before me. Might I never lose sight of the importance and blessing of each day of life.

Amen