Po and Master Shifu

You all have maybe seen Kung Fu Panda. Just throwing a bone out here, but perhaps one of the first scenes with the panda and the kung fu master comes to mind when you think of that movie. Po (the panda) and Master Shifu (the turtle) are at the top of a mountain after a long trek upwards, and the master tells Po: “Po, yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

Whenever I recall that scene - and that quote - from Kung Fu Panda I either go “Awww” to myself, smile peacefully, or stop and really think about it. Knowing me, you may or may not have guessed I usually do all three at once actually lol. And here we go again.

Yesterday is history. (Insert your wonderful reaction here). When I think of this statement, I almost immediately think of a time in college my senior year. It was a reflection night for seniors in the college ministry I was a part of, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. I was giving a talk based entirely off of some of my favorite quotes. When I think of “yesterday is history,” I also think of a quote from that night’s reflection.

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”

This quote is likely found on cute Hallmark fridge magnets, cards, and the like. It’s also something I really appreciate, albeit its cuteness and availability. Both the idea of yesterday being history and not something to be consumed by today, really resonates, and sounds pretty synonymous. The past is literally just that: it’s past. It’s not something we can change. It is certainly something we can learn from, of course, but it’s not meant to “take up too much of today.” I find myself oftentimes expending so much energy on the here and now not actually present. I’m consumed by thoughts of things I wished I’d done, or places I shouldn’t have gone, or things I missed out on. I think of mistakes I’ve made and can’t forgive myself for. I think of unresolved issues, insecurities, trauma, and things that can even haunt me.

I do genuinely see a place in our lives to process the past. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had counselors say to me before as well that we oftentimes need to look back into order to move forward. Whenever we have unprocessed pain from the past, it always comes out harder and in full force later on in life. A blown up beach ball can only stay underwater for so long. The resistance stays there until it’s allowed to be released, and come back up to the surface. I see problems we haven’t processed, or prayed through, or forgiven, or moved on from as things that act like “sinking” blown up beach balls. They can’t stay that way forever!

And so, yesterday is indeed history. It’s written in the pages of the books of our lives. Sounds cheesy, but we really are on a great adventure here. Life is worth the living, even amidst (and honestly because of sometimes) our mistakes and failures. And they are written down, but also not something we have to keep rereading. Who reads a book by only reading one sentence of it, over and over and over again? That honestly seems ridiculous, but really, how often do we do that with our own stories?

And so Master Shifu moves on to tomorrow. The future is also such a perplexing thing, just like the past. And yet, it’s way more interesting and intriguing to me, because it seems to be blossoming with hope and possibility. Whereas, when I think of “the past” it’s oftentimes plagued by dark times, and difficult things. I did say above that the past comes with a lot of baggage. Things that haunt us. Unforgiven moments. Mistakes. Failures. Unprocessed pain. Why is that? Why do those things remain, and it becomes so much harder for us to see the good that has happened. History isn’t just all sad and sorrowful stories. History has some pretty incredible moments, too. And I guess my challenge to everyone reading this, including myself, is to see yesterday as a holistic history: the good, and the bad.

The future is perplexing. It’s full of hope. We oftentimes think of having “bright futures” and “tons of possibility!” The grass is green ahead! Don’t lose heart. Keep on keeping on. And I guess what makes the future so inviting (at least for people like me) is that it really is a mystery. “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know which one you’re gonna get.”

I’ve heard before to just “embrace the mystery.” It’s hard to actually do that, to hold onto something that hasn’t come to be yet. But it’s also a really exhilarating, exciting, and adventurous thing! Take hold of something that’s being built as you hold it. The future can be terrifying, yes. It holds some darkness, too. Not just bright possibilities. The mystery is elusive, and that sometimes can be the most difficult (or scary) part about it. But, again, I think my challenge to all of us, including myself, is to see what could be up ahead that’s inviting, exciting, and worth pursuing. Life is a gift, and how are we going to know that if we don’t plan ahead, look ahead, and look forward to what’s coming?

Lastly, today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. Think about it. Today is really a gift! It’s honestly all we have. To think that we’re guaranteed tomorrow is genuinely foolish. We can’t even know with 100% certainty what will happen to us five minutes from now, let alone tomorrow. I have a general idea of my day to day life, but anything can happen. I’m willing and ready for the entire ride (good and not so good), but I’m also not wanting to hold on too tightly to the future, to what hasn’t happened or never will. Today is the gift. Today is the only thing we have, and the only place we can be all at once, with everything, to experience life. If we’re “not present,” then where are we? We may be processing something from the past, or anticipating something that’s ahead. And yet, we do all of those things and more through the lens of our present moment, our present perspective, our present narrative. How else can I write the next sentence in my life’s book if I’m letting myself think too much (or too little) about what I’ve already written, or what I’m about to write?

Back to the senior night with Intervarsity. The last quote I left my talk with was a powerful one. And one that a good friend of mine introduced me to a while before. It’s a really wonderful quote, because it speaks to the beauty and genuine giftedness of the present. It’s not something to take for granted, it’s not something to gloss over or remove ourselves from. The less in tune we are with reality, with life today, the less we’ll have to remember and the less we’ll have to look forward to. If I’m building my life today on the good I learned from the past, and the good and exciting I’m looking forward to bringing into my life for the future, then that really is a win win. That’s the key, I think. The key to living in the present is to see it as a genuine gift, and to take all that’s good and gifted from the past and future to add to it.

“This day will never happen again!”