"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Friday, February 11, 2011

Joy on the Journey

A good friend and I were talking the other day about how we seem to have this terrible habit of always looking ahead to the next thing we'll be doing.  Some of my thoughts currently are "As soon as I can finish editing this wedding video," "As soon as I finish post-production on The Revised Register," "As soon as summer gets here," "As soon as, as soon as..."  I think you get the picture.  I can never wait for the next thing to happen, for the next bend in the road.  And I am finding that, all too often, I fail to enjoy the journey.  It's the cares of tomorrow and the regrets from the past that often burden us down.  If we would focus our attention on the task at hand and learn to enjoy the scenery as it passes by, life would be so much happier!

Paul had learned this lesson.  In Philippians 4:11 he says “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  Contentment begins with a state of gratitude.  If we would make a conscious decision to thank God for everything, we would soon see that even those things that we don't like and would rather forget about have a very specific purpose.  And even if we cannot see that at this time through our mortal eyes, we can learn to look through the eyes of faith and know that someday, all things will be made plain.  I heard an interesting thought at church a couple of weeks ago:

"It's easy to lift up our concern,
 It's easy to lift up our praise,
 But can we lift up our concern as a praise?"

Think about that for a moment!  Let those words sink in...  Can we truly thank God for everything?  It not only is a command to rejoice and give thanks in everything, but it is also a privilege.  So let's stop fretting about the past and worrying for the future.  Let's stop biding our time while we wait for something truly glorious to happen.  Because if we don't, we'll soon see that the glorious mirage we saw in the distance will all too soon become the very dull present, and another glorious mirage will be on the horizon.  I am going to start enjoying the gift of the present, how about you?

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