Some thoughts for this hard season that we are in…
I was watching TV the other night, and came across one of those survival type shows. This guy was dropped from a helicopter, and was going to spend two weeks living off of the land as he taught the viewer (me) how to survive in this particular region of the world.
It was in the middle of a desert, and his goal was to find water, shelter, and food to sustain him over the next few days. I couldn’t help but wonder what his camera crew were going to eat…anyway, that’s another story.
He made the comment that this was one of the most difficult places to live in the world. So, that got me to thinking. “What is the most difficult place to live in the world?”
I think I may have an idea.
The most difficult place to live in the world to me is…NOW.
I have a hard time living there myself, but on my best days I do succeed a little bit. I really want to stay there, but it is an extremely daunting task.
I think there are two (I know, there are a lot more) reasons that we can’t seem to live NOW:
1. We are chained to the regrets of the past. (“if only…”)
2. We are paralyzed by fear of the future. (“what if…”)
Many of us, yes I said us, get stuck in the past. We either continually celebrate and look to the glories of our successes, or we are bound to the despair of our regrets. Either way, we cannot seem to move past…the past. Our common phrase becomes “if only.”
Others of us, are paralyzed by fear of the future to such an extent, that we live our lives constantly wondering ‘what if.” What if I cannot make it, what if I fail, what if.
Jesus said, “Do not worry.” (Matthew 6:25)
The reason I have a hard time living in NOW, is that I worry. I worry about the past…did I do a good enough job, will he/she be upset with what I said, if only I had ________________.”
Just as quickly as those thoughts come, I move to the future…what if I can’t, what if I don’t, what if _____________.
Jesus used a word for worry that means “to have a divided mind.” I have discovered that whenever I am worried about something, then wherever I am, I am not there. (Confusing, huh?)
What I mean is, I may be with my wife at dinner, but really my mind is in the future worried about finances, job requirements, or whatever. Only, when I hear her say, “Dave, for the fourth time…” am I brought back to the moment.
I really want to live in the moment, in the NOW. It is difficult, but not hopeless. When I simply trust and hand over my worries to Christ, He is able to handle my past and my future. Which frees me to be present, right here, right NOW.
My family says that I am easier to tolerate when I am truly present with them.
I am hopeful that I am learning to trust Christ so I can live in the most difficult place on earth. Yet, I am worried I may not…oh, dear…
Dealing some hope today,
Dave