Some people have difficulty confronting the present. They either live in the past: glories of yesterday; the successes that represent everything but the present – or they dream of the future: new relationships; new projects; new deals. The present is reality; it bespeaks responsibility, obligation, things we must do – now – not tomorrow. Bless on our behalf… this year. We are urged to live in the present, not wallow in memories of the past or dream fantasies of the future. Life is now. Serving Hashem is now. We must live in the present and make plans for the future, based upon the lessons of the past and the foundation of the present.
Horav Avraham Chaim Feuer, quotes the Alter, zl, m’Novardok, who was wont to say: “Even the worst present is far more beautiful than the brightest future.” I think this is because the present is real; the future is but a dream. The Alter added, “A person must relinquish all of his tomorrows for one today, lest he come to relinquish all of his todays for one tomorrow.” When we spend all of today dreaming about tomorrow – we have just wasted today, and tomorrow remains a dream.
