In the Word Wednesdays #IWW – 5.30.12
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own.”
Dedicated to Marina Keegan, Yale University Class of 2012, who died in a car accident on May 26 th.
She was 22.
Seizing the Day
Carpe diem. Strike while the iron is hot. Live life knowing tomorrow is not promised. These are adages that our society recognizes can be wise ideals even though they are incredibly difficult to fulfill. With constantly shifting plans we often wonder what’s next. We become overwhelmed by the bright possibilities of the future, and we can also become burdened by the bleak unknown. While we look forward or even look back, we often forget to look around. But excitement and anxiety about what is coming next only hinder us from being fully engaged in each moment, each blessing God gives us.
This is not necessarily a call to live like there is no tomorrow. It is a call to live like there is a today. For some the recognition that we only live once seems to be an excuse for temporal and ephemeral foolishness. And as followers of Christ, we know that life is not confined to this world. Fully engaging in the moment doesn’t mean that we should recognize the finitude of earthly life in order to put ourselves in positions to experience that finitude. Instead we are called not to worry about tomorrow so we may cherish each moment because life is, indeed, a gift.
A lot of us move quickly or have our eyes fixed on the future. Sometimes the culture of our regions, environments, and career paths necessitate our fast pace and forward-focused outlook. But I encourage us to slow down. Every once in awhile if we stop, breathe, and acknowledge our own existence we may be able to fully recognize how good God is in each moment. We can recognize the gift of life. We also may be able to approach the future with a more solid grounding in our purpose. Also, I encourage us to recount the ways in which we see God or experience God’s presence. Whether we do this daily or weekly, this exercise puts us in the habit of seeking God’s
face and acknowledging the moments we encounter God. In doing this we may open ourselves to the habit of living into each blessing God has bestowed upon us. Let’s take hold of today!
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