Today!

 

Possibly my favorite all time song is “Today”. It is a folk song made famous by John Denver—though it was written by Randy Sparks of the New Christy Minstrels. In 1964 it became a hit.

Easily sung, this song has a simple message: that this day—today—is to be our joy and our focus. Its repeated refrain, “ a million tomorrows will all pass away, ‘ere I forget all the joys that are mine today,” is a line that needs remembering. Let the problems of the past not rob us of our ability to experience the joy of a new day.

It is often difficult to remain focused on today, as fears, hopes and aspirations compete for attention. Things need to be planned for. Problems need to be processed. These take time.

We live in a society where it is very hard to relax and “live in the moment”. The fast paced world of jobs, technology and obligations leave little time for reflection and contentment.

What if others complain? What if they “get ahead” in life, or at work?

Comparing ourselves to others seems to be our curse, for there is always someone who “has it all together”; who is farther along in their career or family life. We are taught to “be all that we can be”—as an old Army commercial implored. More is always needed. More is just ahead. It is our destiny.

We are afraid to let go. Afraid that, if we do then nothing will get done. Others will be disappointed. We may even end up as a bum—with no friends, no home and no purpose.  That will never do.

So we worry and fret. Paralyzed with anxiety we seek only to endure the day. Escaping to the warm glow of the computer screen, we play our games, and try to forget.

Yet peace eludes.

But the song interrupts;  “Today is my glory. . . I’ll laugh, and I’ll cry and I’ll sing.”

With that revelation we can live. The future is coming. The past is gone. All we have is “now”.

It is enough.