Our high school football coach, Mr. Joe Gladys, motivated us through inspirational and practical words of wisdom.
Knowing full well that trying times would surface for each new squad of
enthusiastic and energetic athletes, he forearmed us with this sobering
challenge: “If not me,
who? If not now, when?” Coach Gladys was teaching
us to recognize the urgency of now. All
too often, we humans tend to victimize ourselves by embracing attitudes of
procrastination. That is, we become so fascinated and fixated about the
future that we fail to rightly appreciate, appropriate and act on present
realities. future pipe dreams
can eradicate our awareness and blur our focus on the mission critical
here-and-now. It reminds me of an article I read, reprinted below
for your consideration.
Most of us convince ourselves that life will somehow
be ‘better’ when particular things occur, for example, when we get married,
when we have a child…one thing or another. Then we feel frustrated
that the kids aren’t old enough and become convinced we will be more content
when they are. After that, we’re upset that we now have troubled
teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be ‘happy’ when they get
beyond that stage.
We tell ourselves that life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when are able to go on a certain vacation, or when we retire.
The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this truth to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was just about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time remaining to fulfill some obligation, or some debt to be paid. Then…life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles WERE my life.”
We tell ourselves that life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when are able to go on a certain vacation, or when we retire.
The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to admit this truth to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was just about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time remaining to fulfill some obligation, or some debt to be paid. Then…life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles WERE my life.”
Souza’s perspective helps
us to see that there is no singular avenue to happiness. Contentment is the only sensible
pathway. So, value every moment that you have and treasure it even more
because you shared it with some special people…special enough to spend your
time with...and remember that time waits for no one.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are financially set, until the first or fifteenth of the month, until your song comes on…until you die. Once you start to really mature in your faith walk, you will surely discover that there is no better time than to be happy than right now.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Work like you don’t need money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
And dance like no one’s watching.
So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are financially set, until the first or fifteenth of the month, until your song comes on…until you die. Once you start to really mature in your faith walk, you will surely discover that there is no better time than to be happy than right now.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Work like you don’t need money,
Love like you’ve never been hurt,
And dance like no one’s watching.
God has given each of us a “gift” that we are to use to
glorify His name! Do you know yours?
What will you plan and execute TODAY to establish your
dream of TOMORROW? And how will you
raise your awareness of this day as a marvelous and memorable milestone in this
journey called LIFE?
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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