Planning and Waiting

I guess you could say that I have a hard time with the future and the present. I can tend to live into the future so much that I neglect the present. I have a habit of getting too speculative on what could happen in the future. For instance, I could be preparing for something, but when a wrinkle comes along, or something changes, I often just stop my original plans. This has cut off a few options for me in the past. I'm trying to work on it.

But it's so hard to not want to see your future realized. I have these romantic notions of what life "could be" like, but I don't have a plan on how to get there.

Does this sound like Advent? When we are waiting and preparing in Advent, are we supposed to let this life and this world go? St. Paul advised many of his congregations to not marry or do any of the things pertaining to this earthly life, because Jesus' return was imminent. Now, several hundred years later, we don't really buy that. Of course, there are a few fringe groups that will shirk this world because they are getting ready for the Apocalypse, but most of us talk about this life like we are going to get to live it without interruption.

How do we do both well? Effectively? I've noticed that I can hurt my future by not focusing on the issues I need to deal with in my present. Maybe the key to Advent is that we are working on the present so that we can live into a fuller future...whenever Jesus is to return to this earth.

Just some thoughts.