Future may be a nightmare or a wonderful dream. Between this and that we wonder how we can shape it.
Man’s past is passed, thus he should learn from it. Tomorrow is unknown thus he should work for it at the present that he already owns.
An old carpenter wished to retire after his honorable long career. He told his employer that he wanted to retire to lead a peaceful life with his family. The employer felt sad for him and asked him to do a final task. The carpenter agreed reluctantly. He started building the house; however he did not put all his effort in it. He also used the simplest of tools. He did not want to exert any extra effort.
He wished he could finish the house as soon as possible. As soon as he had finished the building process, the employer hands him the house’s key. The carpenter was totally shocked and he was upset and ashamed. If he had known that house was going to be his, he would have worked better.
We work for our own future. Thus we should be diligent as our future is nothing but the outcome of our past. Thus, one should ask himself, is he erecting or destroying?
No one knows what the future holds for us but God, Glory be to Him. However, that does not mean we have no role toward our future. It is our great responsibility and duty to toil for what we want to achieve in the future.
All religions agree on the importance of toiling in the present to have a better future. It is our spiritual duty to work for our eternal life by practicing prayer, fast and good deeds. They also call for working to earn our daily bread. “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” Man’s laziness leads to his destruction.”The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.”In Quran, Surat al-Hashr ” O you who have believed, be pious to Allah, and let (every) self look to what it has forwarded for the morrow, and be pious to Allah. Surely Allah is Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do.”
Accordingly, we can conclude that God gifted us with talents, potentials, capabilities. He gives us the gifts of health, thinking and money in order to make use of them and create a better future for us and others.
Thus the first rule of future making is that our fate is in our hands as Shakespeare says. Man’s fate and his future are not controlled by any powers but his. Thus, he should keep faith that he can make his future and work honestly; hence God will grant him success.
Another point to keep in mind is that; we reap what we seed. If you do not work for your present, you will have no future. What we do today shapes our morrow. This is why our present is so critical for achieving our dreams. If you are imprisoned in your past, you will neglect your present and eventually lose your future. Turn your past into a lesson, your present into work and effort.
On this topic we are to continue….
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
