THE URGENCY AND JOY OF NOW

THE URGENCY AND JOY OF NOW

 MOST OF US convince ourselves that life will somehow be better when we purchase some valued possession, or perhaps when we get married, or perhaps when we bring a new life into this world, etc.  And when we get married, we might feel frustrated when our children are very young, fully convincing ourselves that we will be more content when they are older.  After that, we might feel frustrated that we now must deal with challenging teenagers.  We are convinced that we’ll certainly be happier when they are beyond that stage, perhaps when they are in college.

We tell ourselves that our life will be completely joyful when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we buy a nicer car, when we go on our dream vacation, when we develop an awesome career, when we get a long awaited promotion, when we retire, etc.

Truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than RIGHT NOW.  If not now, when?  Your life will always be loaded with challenges.  It’s best to simply acknowledge that and decide to be joyful anyway…TODAY.

One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Alfred D. Souza.  He wrote, “For a long time it 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, some time remaining to fulfill a personal obligation, or some debt to be paid.  THEN…life would begin.  At last it dawned on me that these challenges ARE my life.”

 Souza’s perspective helps us to see that there is no singular condition that produces happiness.  Thus, the priceless emotional commodity called CONTENTMENT is the only sensible pathway.  My friend, you must appreciate every moment (and circumstance) you have, and treasure it more because you share it with some special people – special enough to spend your time with.  Remember: 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 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 your ship comes in, until you retire, etc. 

 Once you have been BORN AGAIN, you must make the conscious decision that there is no better time to be joyful 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 laugh like no one’s watching.

 God has afforded each of us a UNIQUE GIFT that we must identify and activate to achieve our purpose and to glorify His name!  Do you know yours?

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!