I find myself thinking of an event or moment
only to realize it was more than one decade ago when it happened. But it seemed
so real and recent? It was just the other day that I walked from the operating
room in Candler hospital down the hall the length of the building carrying
Carolyn my second daughter just moments after she was born. I shielded her eyes
form the harsh light as we moved from one cone of brilliance to the next all
the while talking to her introducing myself and the new surrounding scenery. It
was just the other day...
On Friday, this same girl I walked down the hall
into the nursery walked across the platform graduating from high school out
into the opportunities as yet to be discovered. Oh, there is a plan for the
future but often those plans change for temporary or permanent reasons. I am
certain I am not the only parent who is considering that just the other day their
child started walking, driving, dressing themselves, looking at colleges,
playing in the backyard or singing in the bathtub. Oh, those memories are so
sweet and warm to pull out but they are just that memories and oh how time has
moved.
A friend spoke recently of an event “just the
other day” when a young person in his life suffered a sudden and unexpected illness
and consequently in a few hours died. As he spoke it was just the other day
when it happened as he recalled the minutes and hours of that day. He said he treats life differently now than
before that event. Funny how those moments of “just the other day” can redefine us.
On Thursday my brother, Father and I went on
charter fishing expedition in the Wasaba Sound. It was a beautiful day with a
light breeze, bright sunshine and good company. The fishing was slow followed
by moments of excitement and then boredom. When the trip was concluded and we
were back on shore our Captain was cleaning the 5 small whiting we caught he
said, “Expensive fish.” I replied, “No it was not about the fish but rather the
experience.” One day I will say “just the other day we went fishing and
encountered those two loggerhead turtles!” Once again I will be amazed how time
has passed and how precious that memory has become.
Martin Luther said regarding the future, “There
was today and THAT day.” He was speaking of today and the day when Jesus
returns. There really are just those two days for today is filled with enough
grace for what will happen and then THAT day will be filled with the grace of
Jesus. Time passes so slowly on a daily basis and yet so fast that it was “just
the other day”…
Jesus spoke to us to live each day like there
was no tomorrow leaving nothing undone or unsaid. I want to encourage you to
pay attention to the former leave nothing unsaid. We don’t know about tomorrow.
On this Memorial Day 2012 weekend thank a vet for serving, tell your family you
love them, speak to the culture you find yourself with a word of the Gospel,
make a memory so that “it was just the other day we…” will bring back memories
of life and living filled with love of the Savior and his children in your
life. It’s good to remember but better to make memories today filled with those
you love.
Memorial Day we remember and we make memories.
Do it!
In HIS
Service and Yours,
The Rev
No comments:
Post a Comment