Let’s Not Forget ‘This Day’

There's nothing like a beautiful sunrise to announce another day's arrival.

Many of us are forward thinkers. We’re planning our next vacation, deciding how to remodel the house, anticipating the next pay raise or promotion, evaluating the next big purchase, or simply looking forward to the weekend. Our minds are inclined to drift toward the future. But there’s a danger in being so concerned about “then” that we forget to enjoy “now.”

If there’s a benefit to having had major surgery, or recovering from being chronically ill, it’s that it helps us have greater appreciation for the moment we’re in. Each day’s a gift for every one of us – we’re not guaranteed tomorrow – but when one’s life has hung in the balance, it becomes easier to enjoy the beauty of the present.

The Bible speaks much about the future, especially the life that will follow this one, but it says a lot about today as well. The phrase, “this day,” appears several times to underscore our need to focus as much on the “now and now” as we do the “sweet by and by.” For instance, Jesus told His followers to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). He didn’t suggest dwelling on what we might need next week, or two months from now.

Later in the same passage He spoke about the pointlessness of fretting over the future, giving His hearers assurance that God would not fail to provide for them. Then Jesus added, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

The psalmist wrote about the importance of embracing the present, stating, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). I try to remember that admonition every morning upon awakening, being thankful for another day of life and whatever opportunities God will send. There’s nothing wrong with gazing toward the horizon from time to time, but too much of that may cause us to miss out on what’s right in front of us.

I have several friends battling serious illnesses. For them, each day is truly a gift, a blessing. They don’t know how many more days they have left. Then there are those whose days have ended. My younger sister passed away just over a year ago, and I recently had a cousin not much older than me who also bid farewell to this life. Poignant reminders that each day, indeed, is precious.

But there’s one more element important for fully appreciating “this day.” As we’re living it out, we should consider who we’re living it for. Because that makes a world of difference in what we do, how we do it, and why.

It was Joshua, after leading the impulsive Israelites into the Promised Land, who issued them an immediate challenge. After recounting all God had done for the people of Israel, he told them to, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

While rejoicing in knowing this is the day the Lord has made, it’s always a good idea to reaffirm whom we will choose to serve during it. Then we can do it again tomorrow – after it has morphed into “this day.”

Enjoying the ‘Now’

Five-year-old Talan and 19-month-old Bryce
found lots of entertainment in a small fan.

I love deadlines. I hate deadlines. “Make up your mind, Bob.” Let me explain.

After decades of journalistic training, I’ve learned to respond to deadlines. Deadlines provide motivation – I need to get something accomplished by a certain day or time. Must keep my commitments. Without deadlines to aim at, the procrastination bug bites. I think of many things to do, anything except what I’m supposed to do: write and edit. So a deadline gives me the incentive to focus on the task at hand and not get distracted.

At the same time, deadlines can keep me from valuing the moment. Concentrating on what needs to be done for then, I’m tempted not to appreciate what’s happening now. The other day, for example, two of my grandsons were here, doing what grandsons do. Silly stuff. Playing. Being cute. On that day, however, I had a deadline. Trying to push a book project I’ve been working on toward completion.

Little Bryce is taking
his first steps, and having
a grand time in the process.

So I had a dilemma: Should I stick to my work and keep on schedule, closing my home office door so the grandsons wouldn’t interrupt? Or should I sneer at the deadline and spend time with the boys?

Ultimately I compromised, taking breaks to play with Talan and Bryce a bit, including taking some photos (they grow up so fast!), and then getting back to the task. Not ideal, but at least I didn’t ignore an opportunity to be with them, time I’d never be able to recapture.

Years ago, as editor of community newspapers, I gave myself to the job. Work weeks of 60-70 hours or more were the norm. I was building my career. But I was also missing out on classic moments when my daughters were growing up.

Hiding in a closet also
is great fun, according
to Talan.

Now my career, for what it’s worth, has basically been built. There still are projects to do – books, magazine articles, workplace meditations, letters and blogs. But I’m also trying to curb my workaholic tendencies so I can enjoy the now, special moments with family that will be etched in my memory (as long as I have one).

That’s why Ephesians 5:16 serves as a good reminder: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Moments, once past, are gone forever. Savor them – or lose them.

When I read that verse, it reminds me of boyhood years when my mother collected S&H Green Stamps. You got them at the grocery store, pasted them into collector booklets, and when you had enough you “redeemed” them for useful items at “redemption centers.”

As I recall, the one thing you couldn’t redeem there was time. Hopefully, I’m succeeding in doing some of that now – without the stamps.