The thoughts of a horse.

I can hardly ever go walking in the village without seeing horses. Between where I live and the local Inn one of the first buildings in the village I have to pass two fields and there is seldom a time when there are no horses in one or other of them.

As I passed and watched them the words, "Do they know its Christmas?" crossed my mind. No, they did not and had not a thought about it. Their one concern was the next mouthful of tasty grass or possibly an apple that somebody had thrown into the field for them. Yet they seemed content and sauntered over towards the fence whenever anybody passed, just in the hope.

Not so for us at this time of year. We are so caught up in the future that the now does not seem of much importance.

We are so caught up in the future date that we do not rest satisfied with the present. 

We anticipate that future as too slow in coming, as if in order to hasten its course. Or we recall the past, to stop its too rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we dream of those times which are no more, and thoughtlessly overlook that which alone exists, now. 

For the present is generally lost to us, we conceal it from our sight because we are so caught up in the future.  We try to sustain it by the future and think of rearranging matters which are not in our power, for a time which we have no certainty of reaching. 

Let each one examine his/her thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. 

The present is never our end. So we never fully live,  we are so busy preparing to live. We are so busy preparing to be happy, that much happiness slips by.

One of the greatest dangers of this time is we all spend too much time living in the future or the past, feeling regret for lost joys or shame for things badly done and hoping this year it might be better. 

Even when our minds turn to the future, we spend an inordinate amount of time longing for it or dreading it. 

The only way to live said the sage, "is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.  Work at your work. Play at your play. Shed your tears. Enjoy your laughter. Now is the time of your life."

Or for today be like the horse enjoy the grass before you and not that on the other side of the hour.

Have a great day in the midst of all the busyness.