Qui-Gon, to me, is like one of those trusted professors in university that I knew I could rely on for their teachings. I listened and absorbed what they taught and knew their words were coming from well-founded learning and experience. I knew I could trust in what they taught me and use it not just in my studies but in life in general as well, as it came from the voice of experience.

Qui-Gon had an air of maturity and wisdom that surrounded him and you knew you could listen to his teachings and believe in what he was saying. Obi-Wan did. He admired and respected his master and was deeply affected when he was slain at the hands of Darth Maul. But that didn't stop Qui-Gon's teachings from carrying on to aid the Jedi and the galaxy as a whole. Not only did he learn how to communicate with those Force-users who were still living, but he spoke words of wisdom in his living days that carried a weight of truth and continuity.

One such teaching that he gave Obi-Wan was to be mindful of the future but not at the expense of the moment.

I love this line. It is the culmination of exactly how Qui-Gon lived his life and taught his apprentice. He remained focus on the future, but knew that the actions he commited in the present could affect the future. If your actions are pure and good and well thought out then the future could look rosy. But if your actions are reckless and unthinking, then the future could be jeopordized and at risk of failure.

And "living in the moment" is how I try to live my life. Now, I don't look at each action that I take in the present as always going to seriously affect the future in a good or bad way, but rather I like to take the time to enjoy the moments that I have and absorb the life around me and really live in that moment. It doesn't have to be profound or life-changing ... it could be simply staring at the beautiful colours the sunset plays on the clouds in the sky and getting lost in the beauty of nature. Or taking to heart a compliment from someone when you normally might just brush it off with humility. Or sitting and getting lost in a great book or watching a movie that takes you away to a great place that leaves you stunned in enjoyment. All these things, and so much more, are ways we can enjoy each moment of life.

And in Star Wars, I think Qui-Gon's teachings resonated throughout the whole saga. He passed to Obi-Wan his ideas on the Force and life, and he in turn tried to pass them to Anakin. Now we all know what happened to Anakin, but I believe he still lived in the moment much of his life. He had the very acute sense of the Force that allowed him to act in the moment. He did things with a moment's notice such as slicing off Mace's hand resulting in his demise and Anakin's quick turn to the Dark Side in Palpatine's office.

But he also redeemed himself in much the same way. Luke was suffering at the hands of the Emperor after he had thrown himself under the bus to keep from joining the Dark Side, and calling to his father for help, knowing the good in Anakin could help him. And in the moment, Anakin burst forth from the strong hold of his Darth Vader persona and saved his son, redeeming himself and saving the galaxy from the tyranny of Palpatine. In this case, he was living in the moment to help the future, and help his son and in the end, himself.

So Qui-Gon's words of wisdom can be respected in both the Star Wars universe and our own. Living in the moment changed the course of life for Anakin and Luke in that those critical moments were filled with tension and decision-making that did affect the future. And much the same can be said in our own lives here in our own galaxy.

But just don't forget to enjoy the moments you want to enjoy, and live those moments to the fullest.