LIVING IN THE MOMENT
NOTE FROM BARNEY: We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with family and friends at our house. We have so much to be thankful for. The Christmas season is tough, with decorating, music, etc. There are so many memories that bring me to tears—of both joy and sorrow—but it would be even sadder if I didn’t celebrate Christmas this year. Please pray in this season for those of us who have lost loved ones.
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A farmer owned a rooster, whose crowing annoyed his neighbor. One morning, the neighbor showed up at the farmer’s house with dark circles under his eyes, and eyelids drooping.
“What’s wrong?” asked the farmer.
“It’s your rooster! His crowing keeps me awake all night.”
“But he hardly ever crows, and if he does, it’s never more than three or four times a day.”
The neighbor replied, “It’s not how often he crows that keeps me awake. It’s not knowing when he’s going to do it.”
Imagine that. Worrying over a situation that isn’t even real. But I do the same—like worrying over the past and the future, neither of which exists.
Jesus taught, “Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34, NASB). Focusing on the future, plagues me with fear: fear of being alone, financial concerns, the possibility of other scenarios that might happen. Sometimes, I lay awake at night, like the man worrying over a crowing rooster.
Besides future fears, Ecclesiastes 7:10 warns about dwelling on the past. “Don’t ask why the old days were better than now, because that is a foolish question” (CJB). Consider this example. After Linda passed, for weeks I hung onto the last bouquet I bought her. I finally tossed them after they deteriorated into a shriveled-up mass. I thought, “I’ll never get to buy her flowers again,” and began plunging into despair. I realized focusing on the past, only spiraled me downward. I switched my thoughts to the present, which pulled me out of my pit of sadness.
“Live one day at a time” is a popular axiom. But living in the moment is even better. Living in the moment is perhaps the most important practice that’s helping me grieve the loss of my wife. Focusing on the past or future compounds grief.
Neither the past or future are reality. I love recalling happy memories, and I shed tears of joy and sorrow. But I can’t stay there. Likewise, when I surrender my future to God, I’m confident he has wonderful days ahead for me—in this life, as well as the one to come.
Living in the moment is the key to experiencing joy. It’s the only reality. In this moment, things are okay—not perfect, but okay. And for today, okay is okay. And I’m okay with that!
Principle: Living in the moment frees us from fear and worry.
Ponder:
Currently, what is your greatest worry?
How might living in the moment help free you from your fears?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Matthew 6:25-34.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us this moment. Right now, everything is okay. Please free me from worry over the past or future.
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