Deep down, in my heart of hearts, when I was younger, I must have believed that with the successful crossing of hurdles that come about just from living, I could stop for a good while and bask in a long and lovely pause. Hmmm, it is a nice thought.
But I have found that from studying, to working, to teaching, to marriage, to having children, to parenting, to finances—the list is never ending—there is always the next something.
In high school, there was the next test. In college, the next major exam, the next major paper. In work, there was the pressing deadline. In teaching, the perpetual lesson planning. And so it goes, in the avenues and paths of life, there is always the moment of another horizon, another responsibility. While that has kept me moving forward with the feeling of purpose, it also has sometimes made me miss the “here and now.” That preoccupation of anticipating or sadly, even dreading what is ahead is a vicious cycle. It’s the Catch 22 of living in what hasn’t happened while simultaneously realizing that because of that, you’re missing your today. It’s akin to driving from point A to point B, suddenly realizing you don’t know how you got there and that everything in between you have no memory of.
Every May, our family tries to make a yearly pilgrimage to the beach. Even if its only for a day or two, putting our feet in that wonderful water, smelling those delicious ocean smells, and feeling the sun upon our faces as we relax into the sand is beyond rejuvenation. And for me it’s even a little more. The waves hitting the shore and the gentle breezes coming off the ocean lull me into letting go of “what was” and “what can be”—God’s refreshing reminder teaching me, little by little, the joy of being content…with where I am.
And that same joy has begun to find its way into the ordinary of each day. While I don’t relish every moment or situation I find myself in, I do find that I’m living more in the present, not as much in the past and even less, looking to the future. It’s so easy to get tangled in the spider web of “what ifs” and the “what could be,” but see what Jesus says on this matter.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NLT)
Succinct and to the point, isn’t it? No fluff or frills, but a most straight- forward directive to live in today. The following verse, tells us “how.”
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
What a beautiful way to live!
Kimberly Bryant-Palmer
Author of Mr. Zip and The Capital Z
mrzipbooks.com
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I’d love to hear from you! Email me at kimberly@mrzipbooks.com.
