The Tyranny of the First Square

With my feet stuck in the mud I look ahead to land vying for my attention. I have never explored the hills surrounding my own property, but how can I when there is so much to be done here. The garden needs to be plowed and the house needs to be cleaned. There is always something I could do here to improve the current situation, so how can I begin to consider that which lies in wait, beyond the first square?
Our staff team discusses this tension quite a bit: there are so many things today that vie for our attention, but we must be able and willing to look ahead if we ever want to see positive change tomorrow. As a new father...of triplets none the less, I am leaning just how easy it is to become consumed by the present. Change a diaper, wipe up a mess, pack a lunch, put to bed today, then wonder how in the world the years came and went so quickly. I see how easily one can get consumed with the present needs of raising a child, but never stop to consider the importance of developing him/her for the future. We are so consumed with the here-and-now, that we have little consideration for the future. Whether we are talking about credit card-driven consumerism or maintaining campus ministries, there is a theme: We are stuck in the tyranny of the first square. I want what I want right now, and I will work to maintain what is before me, failing to consider what lies ahead.
By setting up this blog I am trying to climb out of the mud and start walking toward new lands. I have a personality that is so easily consumed by achieving things today, that I deprive myself of the freedom to look beyond apparent losses in order to pursue lasting growth. But hopefully things will change. Even now, I need to go tend to some urgent/present commitments...like babies, but I will hopefully grow to a place where I can overlook the urgent need to do their laundry in order to nurture them for the future. As I sign off, the parallels are flooding my head: Abraham left Ur, Moses left Egypt, Farmers burn fields today so they will grow more fruit tomorrow, God allows trials today to establish our faith for the future.
If another three months go by before I write in here again, you will know that I have been swallowed up by the first square... but I hope to stick it to the man by spending a little more time thinking about tomorrow.