Dwelling on the past will not bring joy to our present lives. When we reminisce, we are missing the current memories we could be creating. Then again, when we dwell on our past mistakes, we are constantly reminding …show more content…
Joy truly exists in the present because we are free from the anxiety about what happened in the past or what will happen in the future. Without this anxiety and fear, humans can truly see and be grateful for all that God has given in the present moment. Screwtape’s advice to his nephew, Wormwood, states about the human “If, on the other hand, he is aware that horrors may be in store for him and is praying for the virtues, wherewith to meet them, and meanwhile concerning himself with the Present because there, and there alone, all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell, his state is very undesirable and should be attacked at once” (pp. 78-80). This statement from Screwtape shows that residing in the present moment does not mean that one is unconcerned with the future; but that a successful human merely accepts that the future is uncertain and strives for the virtuous tools to face the unknown. Screwtape also insinuates that in the present moment, humans will find gifts from God including duty, grace, knowledge, and