Vol. 16 No. 42 | October 21, 2013
Some things do not last long enough.
When believers come together for worship and the fellowship is rich and real, it’s not long enough.
When friends get together to renew their relationship, share the latest events of their lives, and pray with each other, it’s not long enough.
When the day is crisp and cool, the breeze is gentle and refreshing, and the sunset is brilliantly colorful, it’s not long enough.
When the meal is exquisite, the ambiance is perfect, and the conversation is encouraging, it’s not long enough.
When the family is on vacation, it’s not long enough.
When the golf is good, it’s not long enough.
When the weather is perfect and the speaker is compelling, the retreat is not long enough.
When the family is together, it’s not long enough.
When the years pass quickly and you cherish every day, it’s not long enough.
When you finally have a day off, it’s not long enough.
When your week has been hectic and harried and hassled and you make it to the weekend, it’s not long enough.
When you are under pressure to finish the project and you cannot get anyone to help you, you have time but you feel it’s not long enough.
When the cancer is growing and advancing, the chemo is not working, and time is running out, you realize it’s not long enough.
When you have not seen your special friend in weeks and you only have two days, it’s not long enough.
When the end of the semester is moving closer, your unfinished papers are piling up, you wish you had more time because you realize it’s not long enough.
When your birthday celebrations seem to arrive more often than they should, you sense your days are numbered, you wish you could make the days last longer, because the time you have is not long enough.
James talks about the passing of time:
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15, NIV)
Sometimes life seems to move too fast. We wish we could slow it down. We wish we could make it last. We are here for only a short time. We have today. We cannot speed it up and we cannot slow it down. But, we are not helpless and our battle against time is not hopeless.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)
You have today. It may move faster than you prefer. Try not to waste the time you have wishing you had more. Make the most of the opportunity you have today.
Tom
© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.