Maybe it's the end of 2008 fast approaching or the prospect of a new year beginning, but the subject of time is on my mind. I had a conversation with someone the other day who was experiencing sadness with her current place in life. She feels that life does not fit her now. She longs for the future where she thinks things will be so much better. This hope for the future got me thinking about other conversations that I've had with others who long for the days gone by. In these conversations beliefs that the best days have already occured and there is nothing in the future but a downward slide permeate the thinking.
Both these points of view are very familiar to me. I can relate to feeling them both at different times in my life, are they familiar to you? Can you recall a time when you just could not wait for something in your life to occur? It could have been something you were hoping for, working toward or believing would be the best day(s) of your life? Perhaps you even remember a time when you were counting down the months, weeks and days until "it" happened.
Maybe you are remembering how great "it" was and wish it could be like that again. After all, "it" did not last all that long. Maybe you long for a place in your life in the past when youth was carefree, when your body was more in shape and you felt like life was more simple. Maybe there was a time in your past where money was not a worry or your family was just as you wanted it. But those days are gone. You long for them.
Wouldn't it be great to be free of these longings? I believe that we can. God does not want us to focus either in single minded anticipation for the future or single minded pining after the past. When we do this we are not experiencing joy for the day we are in, we are not being thankful or appreciative of the life we are given today. The Apostle Paul wrote the following to the church that started in Lydia's house:
"Always be joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:4-7, God's Word Translation)
Today will only last one day. This day will never come again. What opportunities to help others, or learn more about your God or thank Him might you miss today if you are either rushing this day by reaching for tomorrow, or ignoring today all together while reminiscing over the past? Think of all the things we'd miss if we live like this for a whole week, or a month. Do you think it's possible to get stuck for months at a time in this kind of time trap? Oh, I hope that we don't let this happen. There is so much to live for - TODAY.
