 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003 (XXXXI 1) |
Years ago a little aphorism often appeared on posters and mugs that said, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” As a literal truth this is not a very insightful comment. The point, however, was to encourage us to see that each day brings the potential for a fresh start, a chance to take a different direction in our lives, especially if we don’t like the way they are going.
A different perspective is found in some spiritual guidance often given to monks over the centuries. This advice was “to live each day as if it could be one’s last.” This too is literally true, although we rarely see that. But the point was to encourage those who had dedicated themselves to a life of following and seeking intimacy with God not to put off correcting anything in their being or conduct that might block or corrupt that relationship with the Divine. They were being encouraged not to delay changing anything that might inhibit their spiritual progress, or delay starting anything that could aid that progress – because one never knows when the journey will be over.
In still another vein, we find advice in the Psalms that says simply, “This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24). Here we are encouraged just to be grateful for and celebrate every day as a gift from our Creator.
Recently I had the wonderful experience of being unexpectedly “given” a day. A day suddenly came open so I had no commitments or obligations. I could do anything I wanted. That so rarely happens in my life now that I almost did not know what to do. It set me to thinking about how I view and use any day, and every day.
In being surprisingly presented a day like that, my first feeling was gratitude. However, I also found myself recognizing that, sadly, I rarely follow the wisdom offered in any of the sayings above on most days.
Like most people, I suspect, I awake most mornings with an immediate sense of the many things I must do that day. Usually, I start each day as I finished the last: feeling pressed by my schedule and the work to be done, tasks to be completed, chores to finish, and commitments I have made. Indeed, in this context, too often I look at each day as an obligation to meet rather than a gift to be welcomed and unwrapped.
When I live like this I too seldom take or make the time to give thanks for the day God has made; too seldom look for and do those things that would allow me to be closer to the Divine Spirit, and so become the person that Spirit would have me be and help me be; too seldom see the opportunities to move in a new direction, or be a different kind of person. Rather, I am trapped by old patterns that in fact – with God’s help – might be changed.
In this day that was so clearly a gift I took some time for prayer, went and walked where I could especially appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, did some important reading, got something special to give to a loved one, visited with old and dear friends, and ended the day in a prayer of quiet gratitude. The day began as a gift. It became more profoundly a gift because of what I chose to do with that time.
Now, I know I could not do these things – especially not in so relaxed and satisfying a manner – every day. But in light of this experience I am reminded and convinced of two facts. First, that each day is a gift. Second, that we can make each day even more of a gift, for ourselves and others, by the choices we make about how to see and use the time. We can do this by taking or making even a little time each day to look for God’s grace, to be grateful for it, and then to act in ways that open us to and align us more fully with the Divine Spirit, and that embody our love of God and neighbor.
As we move into a new year, this is a lesson I hope I can remember. I hope I can move into each new day with this vision, and turn it into practice.
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM