Worth Pondering About/ Off Topic Submission

[Guest guest]

E:-}Greetings: We who live with pain in my opinion still have to think

about the future.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR 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. Globalization 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. "

You may not reliably predict your future, but will that future include

adequate attention to your spiritual life? As you gaze at your world

through the window of your mind, will you also gaze

through the window of your soul? And will you nurture your soul along

the way?

Take good care of your future now, for you'll be spending the rest of

your life there.

Be Blessed,

E. Darwent

Moderator, Yahoo Chronic Pain

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These are my three treasures,

Compassion, Frugality, & Humility.

Being Compassionate one has Courage,

Being Frugal one has Abundance.

Being Humble one becomes the chief of all vessels.

~~Lao Tzu~~

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