We always seem to want to rush toward something – always looking forward to (fill in the blank). It’s Friday! So, we’re happy for the weekend, and then we can plan the next weekend. But, what about all those days in the middle? I don’t know about you, but only enjoying and looking forward to less than a third of my life just doesn’t sound appealing. I’d much rather enjoy 90% of my life! (or more)
In my morning readings, I’ve recently been reading the book of Joshua. If you’ve never read it – this large group of former slaves were set free and wondered in the wilderness for 40 years. For 40 years they looked forward to getting to the Promised Land. They knew where they were headed, but knew they had to wait. And I’m sure that like me, they just knew life was going to be perfect as soon as they arrived in this Promised Land.
And yet …
When they arrived, their morning meal of manna disappeared. They had to learn to farm, and they had to actually work for the land.
That couldn’t have been what they had envisioned. Yes, it was the end of the years in the wilderness, but it turned into the beginning of a brand new way of life.
I can’t help but ponder the idea that our whole time on earth if filled with these types of moments – the end of something and the beginning of something else. We’re never going to have a perfect life here. We’ll have perfect moments, maybe even days. But we live in a world filled with endings and beginnings.
David wrote: I praise the Lord for answering my prayers and saving me. … This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today. Psalm 118:24
I’m learning to appreciate TODAY. To hope for tomorrow, learn from yesterday, but to LIVE in the day/moment I am in. And enjoy it!
Let me encourage you, as Joshua has encouraged me, to “Choose today whom you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” And in that choice, I will chose to celebrate and be glad!