Oh, Memories

   "Never live on memories;" (Oswald Chambers)

   There seem to be at least two things that are hard about living in the present. One is living on things that have happened in the past, both good and bad. The other is constantly looking forward to the future. Neither of these is very productive for the present, but the present is all we have to work in.

   I have a lot of memories. Most are good and things that I would do again, but some are not so good, and I do have regrets of things that I would do better or differently, given the chance. However, I can't live there. Life goes on. We have no promise of tomorrow, only the present moment.

   While I was visiting with a friend in Chattanooga this past week, I picked up a book that spoke of the stages in a man's life. Of course, I skipped to the last stage to see what I should be doing in my latter years. Deep down I know that these years should be filled with service for God and others, but I also know that it is easy for me to live them for self.

   Life actually happens between the memories of the past and the plans for the future. This is where I am and where I am called to live. Remembering and planning are both good, but I can't pitch my tent in either place and stay there. The old cliche is right, "today is the first day of the rest of your (my) life".

   I want to wake up each morning with the anticipation of what God will do that day in my life and in my world. Today has never happened before and won't ever again either.

   "This is the day that the Lord has made".

   So true, and yet, so easy to forget. Much easier to write it than to practice it.