"Good ovoning," he said. "Horo is the Nows..." and maintaining a straight face, he launched into a sketch that outlined how the day had unfolded. But with an O replacing every E, he threw different meanings - or complete confusion - into every item.

Ronnie Barker was skilled at wordplay, and this "Nows at Ton" sketch is available online, still raising a laugh despite its current affairs items no longer being current.

TV cameras and comedy aside, I've found that a single reverse change - of shifting an O to an E - can offer an attitude shift for stepping into each day.

Most days we know what to expect, especially if we like to plan, or if much of our day is already planned for us. So we can develop the habit of thinking about what we've GOT to do, and maybe feel a little jaded or overwhelmed. But if we see each day as filled with what we GET to do, we can start to see new opportunities in the most familiar things.

There is always more to learn about our work, or any changes ahead, or our community. Or how to interact better with people - those we know or those we get to know - for we never know what changes they might have suddenly had to face.

As a reminder to make the most of each day, an old proverb says, "Don't boast about tomorrow; you don't know what a day may bring." It was inspired by the God who invented time - so nothing takes him by surprise. And if we are receptive to what he wants to show us, we can face our interruptions better and help other folks through their sudden challenges.

But if nothing new crops up, we can be grateful for being able to do what others can't, whether it's from lack of skills or training, or through disabilities from birth or, because of accident or illness, or maybe through political or religious restrictions.

A gratitude attitude is a big factor in this whole step because today is a gift.

Maybe that's why we call it the present...