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   Living in the moment is not easy for me.  I have a tendency to want to think about the future more than I need.  The only day I am assured of living is now.  Tomorrow is not a sure deal.  One of the great lessons of life that I have had to remind myself of is that I must live in the moment.  If I don’t I may miss some of life that is right before me.  My spouse would like to have me in the now more.  I try not to but there have been times when I have been on vacation and allow my mind to wander back to work.  Hence I spoiled my own good time. 

   When Moses asked God what was His name.  God said I am.  God is in the now and calls us to be in it too.  Today I am going to focus on today.  I may make future plans but always I must realize that all my planning is if God wills it.  In a way life is to be lived not planned.  This week I am going to ask God to help me live more in the now.

Today I got up early and greeted the day with amazement.  It had snowed over night and at 5am the snow on the ground looked like a picture postcard.  I drove out to the park to walk my dog.  We were the first ones to walk down the path.  I enjoyed making tracks and see the snow on the trees.  Although it was cold and I could not walk as fast as normal, I marveled at the wonders of creation. 

 

I suppose I wonder at life more lately because of my dad.  He had a stroke last August and continues to be in a nursing home.  He sleeps a great deal and cannot walk.  Our family is getting used to the idea that he made spend the rest of his life in that home.  Some days when I feel rushed or discouraged I think of my dad and count my blessings.  It is sad that sometimes we take for granted so much until it is taken from us.  Today I want to enjoy the snow and the walk and all of life.  It is a precious gift. 

     Today is my spouse’s birthday.  As a part of the celebration of that day we are going to go out and eat and then go to a concert later in the evening.  I am looking forward to the celebration.  I am most thankful for Phyllis and how she has enriched my life.  But as I reflect on her birthday I wonder where the time has gone.  I have a difficult time believing how old I am.  In my mind I still think of myself as young but when I look at the calendar I know my youth is long gone.  

     Realizing that life goes by so quickly causes me to be thankful for each day of life that God has given to me.  Hence I want to live fully aware that each moment is a time to not be wasted but to be used wisely and joyfully.  With each passing day I want to be more fully aware of God’s goodness that is all around me.  Today I am asking God to make me not just older but wise.  And the Bible has taught me that wisdom is knowing God. 

    Waking up early I read some pages from the book Ate with Sinners.  I ran across a fact that caused my to read it a couple of times to make sure I had read it correctly.  The author said that in the first fifteen years of Rick Warren’s ministry his church relocated 79 times.  Yes, 79 times.  That is a lot of moving around.  The author used this fact to show that the Church is not a building but a body.  A moving living body is not only alive but it moves.  The author of this book is driving home the point that the Church of Jesus Christ must go to the people and not expect people to come to it.  

          There is much truth in the thought that the Church of Jesus Christ must reach outside to the lost and not just wait for them to come to us.  I am delighted to be a part of a Church that is attempting be moving and out among the world.  I continue to wrestle with how and where we can reach out but we are making an attempt.  I pray the Church of the Living Savior will not just put up buildings and think all is well.  Indeed followers of Jesus must eat among the lost and to do that the Church must go out into the midst of our world.