Lessons Learned on the Journey

"What is important is not what is next but what is now." My friend continued by saying that many times she thinks so far ahead and worries about what might happen in the future that she misses the joys and opportunities presented to her in the "here and now."

I too fall prey to this same thinking pattern. When my focus on the future becomes too intense, I fail to attend to the important issues of the present, let alone experience, as my friend says, "the joys and opportunities of the present."

Concentrating on the "here and now" reminds me of my days in emergency medicine. I was taught to:

-	Stop and deal with the most important issues
-	Stabilize and attend to the medical issues of the present
-	Secure & prepare for the future medical needs of the patient. All this required
-	Spending time and energy in the now

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10) did all of the above when he stopped to attend to the "half dead" man along the road. He stopped. He stabilized him by bandaging his wounds. He carried the man on his donkey (the ambulance of the day). He secured lodging for his recovery. He sacrificially spent his time and energy and his intentions for that day.

Will you join me this week in seeing "what is now" and stopping long enough to respond? There is joy and opportunity waiting.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. (Luke 10: 33-34 NIV)