What It Takes

Professional golfer Tiger Woods was once asked why he was so hard to beat on the final day of a tournament. His response was, "I know what it takes to play in a final round of any tournament. You can't let yourself look ahead to the final outcome, because if you don't take care of the present, the final outcome may not be what you want."
Now I know that Tiger may not be the best source of advice in light of his recent personal problems, but I think this is good advice not only for golf, but for life as well. If we don't focus on the present, the future may not turn out the way we hoped. As I get older, the more important taking care of the present dominates my thoughts.
Now, a couple of weeks into the new year, many are probably already lamenting that they've broken their resolutions. Today, however, is a great day to set new goals in order to take care of the now. Here are some ideas I came across recently.
* If you want good health in your 60's and 70's, pay attention to things like diet, smoking, and exercise right now.
* If you want friends tomorrow, think about how you are treating people today.
* If you want to pass along a good name to your children, pay attention to what your conscience is telling you today.
* If you want a stable, intact home, honor your family committment today.
* If you want to live with self-respect, a clear conscience, and confidence about eternity, be sure about your relationship with God right now.
These are but a few things we can do that will make us wiser. Then we can enjoy life more and trust God with the future.