what will I want?

St Augustine gives us useful advice today in A Year with the Church Fathers. He says not to worry about what the world either threatens OR promises. No matter what they threaten, it doesn't compare with what God threatens if we lose Him - eternal death. And no matter what the world promises, it is nothing compared to what He promises if we follow Him - eternal life. The threats and promises (carrots and sticks) of the world become nothing when we think about the consequences of following Jesus.

And this reminds me of some useful wisdom I picked up along the way. I learned once that it's a good idea, rather than thinking of what I want to do today... instead, to think about what I WILL want to have done when the day is over. Then I plan my day to accomplish those things.

If we take this planning and thinking to its logical end, we posit ourselves at the end of our lives, and think... what will I want to have done in my life when it's all over? And I start working toward those goals. Will it matter how much money I made? Actually... it'll probably matter far more how much I gave away. So I plan to start doing that now. Will I care who slighted me? Not at all. I'll care who I loved, and made sure they knew I did. And so I try to speak that love now.

God, thanks for teaching us perspective.