Anticipation

You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be. James 4:14a

Some say that the anticipation regarding what is coming is often if not always better than the event itself. That’s a sad thought, but true perhaps in relationship to the nature of reality. I often find myself anticipating those coming things more than concentrating on the things that are occurring. Sometimes the problem is our faulty way of thinking. For example, in the midst of our vacation we are so focused on the fact that it will soon be over that we fail to enjoy the time we have. Or, we are concentrating on how many days are left before we can retire to that cabin in the hills, and in the process missing the incredible possibilities of the day at hand.

If the Scriptures tell us anything at all it is clear that we need to focus on the here and now. I don’t mean to preclude the fact that Heaven may be in our thoughts, but our primary view must be attentive to the present. It is certainly not wrong to plan, prepare and even preview in our minds the future, but if our absorption is such that it prevents our best efforts at the present, we will miss God’s best and live each day with less intensity than possible.

I fully believe that tomorrow is bright. When we are involved in obedient response to the leadership of the Father, it matters little whether tomorrow extends our service and llove to others or transports us to Glory. Tomorrow may be a day of pain and sorrow, a day of joy and fulfillment, or a day of repeating the same tasks as the day before. In each day, however, there is a purpose, a plan, a promise, and a provision. We must learn to see them, embrace them, and enjoy them.

Tomorrow will come—or it won’t. Someday that long awaited vacation will start—today. Retirement, the new career, marriage, or the expected one will arrive. Maybe the inheritance will be much larger than you thought! In the meantime, carpe diem! Or better still, llove what is now! You have that in hand.