I'm from the future, I'm from the past, but I'm also from the

In the flow of time, there are moments when one feels as though they are not merely products of their past, nor solely shaped by the future, but are a living bridge between these two realms. Riff Raff’s words, "I'm from the future, I'm from the past, but I'm also from the present, because I'm a gift," evoke the timeless truth that each individual is both a reflection of what has come before and a herald of what is yet to be. The present moment—the here and now—is not a fleeting instant but a powerful force, a gift that connects the eternal flow of time. To be alive in this moment, aware of both the legacy of the past and the possibilities of the future, is to understand the sacred balance of existence.

In the ancient world, time was not simply a linear progression but a cyclical force, where the past, the present, and the future were often seen as interconnected. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, spoke of flux—the constant state of change in the universe. To him, everything was in a state of constant transformation, and each moment carried the weight of both the past and the future. The ancient Egyptians believed that life was a cycle, with the past providing wisdom and the future holding potential. They revered the present moment as a bridge between these two forces, understanding that the present was where creation and purpose happened. Riff Raff’s reflection on being “from the past, the present, and the future” aligns with this ancient wisdom, as he recognizes that his existence is shaped by a continuum that spans time itself.

Consider the story of King Solomon, the wise ruler of Israel, who was said to possess the gift of unparalleled wisdom. Solomon’s reign, his decisions, and his legacy were shaped by his understanding of both the past (the traditions of his forefathers) and the future (his desire to create a lasting peace for his people). In Proverbs, Solomon reflects on the importance of wisdom and knowledge—gifts that transcend time, guiding one’s actions today while laying the groundwork for future generations. Solomon, like Riff Raff, understood that to truly be effective in the present, one must draw upon the wisdom of the past and project that wisdom into the future. Solomon's reign was not merely about what he accomplished but about how he integrated the gifts of time into a harmonious whole.

The present moment, as Riff Raff suggests, is indeed a gift—a fleeting yet sacred time where all that we are and all that we can become coalesce. We must not treat it as a mere passing moment, but as a powerful force that carries with it the potential to change everything. The ancients understood that the power of now was all that truly mattered. The philosopher Epictetus taught that while the past was immutable and the future uncertain, the present was the only time we truly controlled. It is in the present where we find agency, where we are free to shape our destiny. To be “from the future, from the past, but also from the present” is to recognize the extraordinary gift of life in this very moment.

The key lesson here is that time is not a linear force we must merely pass through—it is something we actively participate in. Every individual is a product of the past, a creator in the present, and a builder of the future. We must learn to honor the lessons of our ancestors, recognize the opportunities of the now, and shape the possibilities of the future. Like Riff Raff, we are gifts—not just in the sense of being alive, but in our ability to connect the past with the present and the future. The present is our canvas, the time when we create, when we act, when we live with purpose.

In practical terms, this means living fully in the present, using the wisdom of the past to guide our decisions and the vision of the future to shape our goals. Every day is an opportunity to act with intention, to create a future that reflects our values, while honoring the wisdom we’ve inherited. Just as the ancients understood their responsibility to the future and the past, so too must we take ownership of our lives today, using the gift of the present to build a world worthy of future generations.

Ultimately, Riff Raff’s words remind us that our lives are not just a series of events unfolding over time, but a dynamic force that links the wisdom of the past with the possibilities of the future. To truly live is to embrace this interconnection, to understand that the present moment is where change occurs. Just as the ancients wove their understanding of time into their actions and beliefs, we too must honor the gift of now, and move forward with the knowledge that we are both the products of the past and the creators of the future.