Wednesday 9 June 2021

What are you doing now?

 

I was travelling on the train the other day. I settled down in my seat and made myself comfortable for the long journey ahead. Opposite me sat a man in his late fifties reading a newspaper. Just as the train was pulling out of the station another man entered our carriage hurriedly. The man sitting opposite looked up and recognised him immediately.

"Hello Jack ...." he greeted the newcomer, "haven't seen you for ages ... not since college days ..."

They sat together opposite me and went on for ages reminiscing about the past. I closed my eyes and hoped that the journey would soon be over. The original man sitting opposite went on to explain how he'd become Marketing Director of a large multinational firm, then he moved on elsewhere as Head of Sales and Marketing, and then as Head of this and that ... The list went on as he boasted on how well he'd done in life.

His friend had become a teacher. He joined a local school after leaving college and he'd been there ever since. He listened attentively at the long list of successes which his companion related and then asked him: "What are you doing now?"

The first man stopped in his tracks, swallowed deeply and admitted that he was out of work. He'd just attended an interview for a job in the City, but did not hold much hope. 

I suppose life isn't always easy and smooth for most of us. We all have our ups and downs. Yet, no matter what we did or who we were in the past; surely what is important is what we are doing right now.

We may be at work, in between jobs, or perhaps with no job at all. The important thing is to do something right now. The past is behind us and gone. Sure, we can learn from it and use our experience to shape our future as best we can. But there really is no point in dwelling on how successful we were then.

It's not where you've been that matters.

It's where you're going to!

21 comments:

  1. What am I doing now? Anything I want. I'm retired so I can go where I want when I want, as long as I'm home in time to feed the cat, and if I want to spend a day sleeping, I can do that too.

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    Replies
    1. Well done. I wish you a long and happy and healthy retirement.

      God bless, River.

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  2. ...life can change on a dime.

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  3. That really goes along with the concept of living one day at a time.

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    Replies
    1. There really is no other way, Kathy.

      God bless.

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  4. So true. The boastful man may not always be so sure of himself. Like Tom said, Life can change on a dime.

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    Replies
    1. So true, Happyone. Life is never the same for long.

      God bless.

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  5. Nothing is guaranteed to last forever or even tomorrow.

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  6. Oh ya! Haven't we all known those men (and women) so full of themselves; over-eager to climb the ladder of success. Reminds me of that old saying: Be careful ... the toes you step on today may be connected to the @** you kiss tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. Well said, Mevely. Let us be thankful for what we've got.

      God bless you always.

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  7. With my level of success, at least I can not fall off the floor.

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    Replies
    1. I am sure you are successful in many ways, JoeH.

      God bless you.

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  8. Dearest Victor,
    So many people just love to boast and drown in their way of attention getting (uhm, demanding!)... One wonders if they were really that good.
    As my Pieter always says, it is far better that others talk about you in a positive way (if needed or deserved) but never you yourself...
    It is great for being retired and only to reminisce.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    Replies
    1. It's good to reminisce. I remember, I started with nothing and I have still got most of it.

      God bless, Mariette.

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    2. Victor, it also is good to READ! You constantly post at least triple as much text, if not more, as I do on my posts. Yet you 'expect' people to read it all. From your comments I often get the impression that you have NOT read or looked closely at my info...🤓

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  9. It is much better to have a good ending than a good beginning. Many sports fans here have to see the opening kick-off of the American style football game, attaching much importance to it. It's important, but not nearly as important as the end of the game, as having the most points then is how you win.

    Even if someone starts life badly, if s/he ends as a devoted follower of Jesus, then it was a good life that will lead to better in the next.

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    1. It's not where you've been that matters.

      It's where you're going to!

      God bless, Mimi.

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  10. Life's successes are not guaranteed, Victor, but when we trust in the Lord, we have everything we need.
    Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. Amen, Martha. Often trusting is really tested.

      God bless.

      Delete

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