Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves
on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the
windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at
crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row
upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and
village halls.
But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a
given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands
playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we
pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
"Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're
eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL
Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"
From that day on we will all live happily ever after.
Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly
place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an illusion--it
constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a
history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only
today is there light enough to love and live.
So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today
that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and
fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is
the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more
mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener.
Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we
go along. The station will come soon enough.
Do you find yourself often living in the past or looking forward to the future? For me it has always been the next step in life...when I can wear makeup, when I can go to dances, when I can drive, when I graduate high school, or when I get married. I didn't enjoy college like I wish I had because I took dating way too seriously feeling like I had to get married before I left BYU. Well I didn't and now I am so glad. I enjoyed life much more when I moved to DC and tried to live "more in the now". Now I'm finding myself looking ahead again for when Adam is a little bit bigger and can do this or that. Or sometimes I find myself looking back and jealously remembering how easy and spontaneous life was when Dan and I were first married.
I'm really going to try to stop and I encourage you to do the same. Appreciate every day for what it brings. Today I am loving Adam's huge grin when he sees me when he wakes up from his nap. Today I am loving Dan's work schedule that allows him to play with Adam every morning. Today I am loving that Dan and I can cozy up and watch as much TV as we want every night. Today I am loving that I live close to so much family. Today I am loving that my loved ones and I are all healthy.
Happy Thanksgiving and remember to Seize the Day! (open the gates too if you want haha)
2 comments:
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it's called the Present."
Thank you Kung Fu Panda
That is beautiful. Thank you.
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