I’m always amazed at how oddly time seems to move around me. It rushes by with no regard at all to the moment... regardless if that particular slice of life happens to be one of epic importance or mundane normalcy. It moves at the same pace regardless of my request. But what really catches me off guard, is how minor moments add up to entire years of time without any sense of rapid movement.
Like a dream... soft and distant, with wisps of fog and only a little bit of light, surreal and unexplained, and then I have a moment when I “wake up” startled to find that I’m nowhere near where I thought I was.
Time changes subtly... this morning it was suddenly cold outside, with frost on the windows of my car and it “seemed” like only last week that I was running around wearing shorts and a t-shirt. This morning my college freshman daughter is sleeping in her sister’s bedroom on an overnight trip back to college, but it “seems” like she was just sleeping in that same bunk bed as my precious little 8 year old, bright-eyed and full of childlike excitement about her third-grade field trip to go see the local apple orchard.
Choices are all we have.
We can’t stop the movement of time, we can’t stop the transitions of life. The change in seasons, the growth of our kids into adults and the relentless march of age as we grow and mature and start to slow as everything we know and seems familiar keeps on changing.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).
But we can make wise decisions.
The assumption that can destroy us all is the belief that things will always stay the way they are. The subconscious belief that we will be exempt from the movement of life and time to its unavoidable conclusion. Our passing. Morbid? Nah, this is good stuff. Thinking about the pressing nature of life, of change and the ultimate common denominator is healthy for us to consider in the hustle and bustle of our days.
Slow down a bit, spend a moment with God, read of the sacred word and breathe a bit of life into your soul as you rush off to do whatever is so important today.
STAND STILL in the midst of your Chaotic World. Consider the end game, rouse yourself from the lethargy of it all. Make your choices accordingly. Life is a gift, not a guarantee and the flavor of our decisions will shape the present and our eternal futures.
Parenthood is an epic and honorable accomplishment, not something simply to survive. It’s an uncommonly rare thing for parents to finish strong, to remain married and to provide the stability and strength of a healthy home for children to become men and women of influence and direction.
Stand still and see the life you live as it really is, remember that Choices are ALL WE HAVE.
Changes to be made? Sure, of course... things to improve, values and priorities to re-establish, undoubtedly. But make them now, or the distractions of today may become the regrets of tomorrow.
“So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, ESV).
Amen and Amen. God help us to live each day and each moment to its fullest... conscious of the precious and fleeting gift it is. Help us to live with wisdom and intent as we raise our children and follow your will for our lives.
