Taking Care Of My Future

The story is familiar that when Harry Truman and Tom Dewey faced off in the 1948 presidential elections, Dewey went to bed convinced he was the next president of the United States. But when he awoke, he learned that Harry Truman had won. What may not be as well known is that Dewey said to his wife on election day, "Dear, tonight you'll be sleeping with the President of the United States." When they learned that Harry Truman actually won, Mrs. Dewey said to her husband, "Tom, will I be going to Washington or is Mr. Truman coming here?"

It is difficult to predict the future. But one group that has had some success with gazing at the "crystal ball" is the World Future Society. In 1987 the society met in Cambridge, Massachusetts and predicted that the 21st century will include:

1. A transition from an industrial to an information and service society.
   
   
2. A terrific increase in the rate of change.
   
   
3. Globalizations in every area of business and life.
   
   
4. Re-spiritualization of society (reversing the secularization trend of recent centuries), tying knowledge to vision and direction.

Early in the 21st century we have already seen these trends evolving. I find all four fascinating, but the last one particularly intrigues me. My friend Oak Soo from Korea sent me this quote from anthropologist Jane Goodall (REASON FOR HOPE, Warner Books, 2000). Goodall, a scientist, said this about spirituality:

"Thinking back over my life, it seems to me that there are different ways of looking out and trying to understand the world around us. There's a very clear scientific window. And it does enable us to understand an awful lot about what's out there. There's another window; it's the window through which the wise men, the holy men, the masters of the different and great religions look as they try to understand the meaning in the world. My own preference is the window of the mystic."

I may not reliably predict my future, but I ask myself if my future will give adequate attention to my spiritual life? I gaze at my world through the window of my mind, but I wonder, will I also gaze through the window of my soul? And will I nurture my soul along the way?

I had better take good care of my future now -- I'll be spending the rest of my life there.

    ~ Steve Goodier ~

[ by: Steve Goodier Copyright © 2008 (LifeSupport@yahoogroups.com) -- {used with permission} ]