“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14
“Living in the moment”. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? I picture myself sitting on a picnic rug under an oak tree, watching my loved ones banter and play, our plates full of delicious food, and soft music crooning in the summer breeze. I listen to every word uttered, memorize each face before me, and give my full attention to all. I have not a care in the world, for this moment is precious and this moment is now…
Really? So that’s how it’s supposed to be! Why, oh why is it so very hard to embrace the present? My attention is pulled in so many directions, and I seem to be constantly straining for tomorrow’s targets and planning my life away. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who battles the priorities:
Something needs cleaning, writing, cooking, driving, organizing, doing.
VERSUS
Someone needs a listening ear, encouragement, a hug, attention, a coffee date, loving.
My heart tells me the relationships should always take precedence. After all, my house will be a mess within hours (or minutes, depending on who is at home!) but time spent with someone- anyone really- is priceless. Quite honestly, I too need the listening ear, the encouragement, the hug, the attention, the coffee date and the loving… we all do. It’s how we were created and it’s what we crave. In the blink of an eye our children grow up, families shift, friends move away, our circumstances change- and the only thing still the same is our messy house and our plans for tomorrow and our never ending “to do” list.
Then there’s time with the Lord, which should be huge priority, but because he doesn’t nag and he doesn’t dump a heap of laundry at our feet, He is also put on our “to do” list. But part of living in the moment, enjoying the here and now, is having God in our everyday life. His Spirit is within us, nudging our busy souls to stop for a minute and enjoy His presence, to look up and give thanks for the blessings around us. The sibling laughter and the fresh strawberries. The spontaneous movie night and the red roses. Even the muddy footprints reminding us a silly bulldog lives here. The simple beauty in every single day.
Our life is a whirlwind, a “mist”, and we only get one to live on this earth. Eternity will be blissfully slow paced with nothing to hurry for, no tomorrows to plan and organize. Pure perfection, all the time. But for now, let’s try jumping off that crazy hamster wheel and living in the moment. Stop long enough to smell the roses and give thanks for today. You’ll see the everyday graces and your life will be richer and fuller. Even if your house is a little messier… 🙂
