Living In The Here And Now
Everyone who’s taken a child on a road trip is familiar with one question, “Are we there yet?” This frequent juvenile inquiry usually results in increasing parental irritation, and ultimately in a frustrated response, “I’ll tell you when we get there!”
The “are we there yet” question is actually reflective of a common adult mindset. It’s the “destination versus the journey” approach to living. Far too many of us are focused on “getting there,” wherever there may be, rather than paying attention to the scenery along the way. We live life from one “there” to the next “there,” and miss a lot of beautiful things and important growth in the process.
It’s sobering to think about all the life blessings we’ve potentially missed because of our impatience to arrive at some goal, achievement, or status. We speed past people, seasons, and opportunities looking for the golden moment of arrival, thinking the destination will bring us fulfillment. We trade the joys of the “here and now” for the anticipated excitement of the “when and then!” We fail to remember this fact: our “when’s and then’s” become “here and now’s” as soon as we get there! The moments of arrival are never quite as fulfilling in reality as they are in our imaginations.
How do we cure ourselves of the “when and then” syndrome? It only happens when we exalt and celebrate our life journey over life destinations. As the old adage states, “the joy is in the journey!” Not only should we look for joy in the journey, but it’s smart to find purpose in the journey.
Life isn’t about getting somewhere, it’s about daily appreciating and learning from your current “where.” You’re somewhere today! And today is what really matters. What you do today makes your tomorrows!
Moses gave us a wonderful prayer we should remember and pray ourselves:
Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should. — Psalms 90:12 (TLB)
Moses draws attention to our “days,” not our weeks, months, years, or decades. Each day plays an important part in what we become in life, and in what we meaningfully do with our lives. Wise people prayerfully invest themselves in today.
When we speed past the opportunities today offers, we’re forfeiting the fertilizer for improving our days to come. Every day is important. Every day has its lessons, and also its rewards. Each day is worth living wisely and to its fullest.
Are you living in the “when and then” or in the “here and now?” Wise people live every day as though it might be their last one!
Pastor Dale
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