Make the most of the time
Two of my favorite memories from former epic Louisville snow storms happened during my college days. The first happened when a friend pulled up in front of the house on roads that I thought were impassible. His little 4-wheel drive SUV was light enough to navigate just about anything. Before long we were headed down Arnoldtown, with only one lane barely passable, still thick with snow and ice. We did not see another car on the road, which was good since there may have been someone being towed on a sled behind us!
Second was the time a group of us headed to Iroquois Park to sled. We found this sweet hill with no trees; we couldn’t believe it. One guy brought a tractor inner tube, so we decided to see how many of us could fit on it. We ended up with five or six passengers. With all that friction, It took a while to start, but once we were going the speed picked up fast. Soon we were flying down the hill without a care in the world! One thing we hadn’t considered was that this hill was part of the golf course. Ahead of us, about half way down the hill, was a tee box. This was going to make for an awesome launching ramp. We took off from the lip like a Titleist struck by Tiger Woods, screaming for the fairway. All of us cheered with delight for the .67 seconds we were in the air. But then we hit the ground like Fat Man landing on Hiroshima. The inner tube turned into a trampoline, sending bodies flying every direction. Our peals of delight turned to moans of remorse, but thankfully everyone survived.
These stories remind me to make the most of the time you are given. Many dread the coming of snow because of the break in routine, being ‘trapped’ in the house, the fear of power outages, or many other things that could go wrong. But how can you turn the dread into delight? Yes, we had to cancel church Sunday, and I love gathering as much as anybody else, but it’s also a delight to worship as a family, studying the Bible in the living room, warm beverages in hand, nestled under blankets, relaxed and ready to connect (If you missed the Devotion we posted, you can watch it here).
I remember being stuck in Asheville, NC after a snow storm. I had been there speaking at a marriage conference. I couldn’t get a flight out for another 36 hours. I thought it was the end of the world. But the couple that I had been speaking with said it would be at least two more days for them, maybe more. The horror! But then the wife said, “Oh we don’t mind. We just look at it as an unplanned vacation.” Well said! Thank you for the perspective shift.
The reality is, you only have today to enjoy. You only have this very moment. Yesterday is done, you can’t go back, and who knows what tomorrow holds, but you can try to make the most of this very moment right now. Don’t look past the moment God has given you. Hebrews 3:13-14a says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ.” Take it one day at a time. Encourage one another to turn away from sin and turn toward the share we have in Christ! And if we each make the most of this day, who knows how God might use Valley View to reach the South End of Louisville with the gospel of Jesus Christ!