Just turned 46 and I’m feeling mighty fine! Truth is this might be one of the happiest seasons of my life. Not because everything is perfect, but rather because I’ve learned to live life on life’s terms. For me that means I no longer fight the current. Instead, I figure out how to harness the power of the water and ride the waves.
I used to get all worked up when things weren’t going my way. Girl, that took so much energy! Thank goodness I’ve finally lived long enough to understand that come what may, God is in control.
Over the weekend I was thinking back on some of the rides God and I have taken together. I chuckled remembering how I used to make all these plans and just be hell-bent on keeping them. Sometimes I’d lose sight of the goal, so determined I was to order the steps. Have you ever done that? Totally missed the easier, much more direct way, because all you could see was your way?
I know y’all probably matured at a faster pace than me, but I gotta tell you my little mind worked overtime trying to what I call “move things forward”. The crazy thing is that it was all fueled by ideals most of us believe are true, but don’t come close to telling the whole story. See if any of these seem familiar to you:
The illusion of scarcity.
I used to believe there was a finite amount of opportunities , and I did not want to miss out on mine. It wasn’t that I was trying to hoard them from others, I just felt certain that there were moments that were “once in a lifetime”, and if I missed them I’d be missing out on the life I was meant to experience.
My favorite saying was “Success is when preparation meets opportunity, and you recognize it.” And you know what, that’s true. But here’s the part I missed:
Every moment of every day is full of possibility. We must accept the past and anticipate the future, all while being fully present today. Because right now, this minute, is the only one we know we have.”
There is no scarcity in God. His desire is to bless us. We don’t have to worry that we’ve blown all our opportunities. As long as we’re still here, there is more than enough and there is still time. Which leads me to my next crazy notion…
The fallacy of time
God is, was and always will be. Our concept of “time” is meant to help us count the days, not confine our thinking. But we spend so much energy worrying that we don’t have “enough time” or that we’ve “run out of time” or that it’s not “our time” that we end up wasting time!
Here’s the thing – we are all complex beings, created body, mind and soul. Our bodies will one day give out, but our souls will last forever. So the question is never do we have enough time but rather what are we to accomplish with the time we have here?
We all know people we feel like were gone way too soon. I think about my friend, Bridget, who died not too long ago from metastatic breast cancer. She was such a bright, beautiful light, illuminating the path for all who passed her way. Bridget made the few years she lived here on earth count, touching as many lives as she could. She never let her prognosis keep her from living her purpose.
Sooner or later we’ll all join Bridget, for not one of us is getting out of here alive. Like her, I want to live on purpose – fully, completely and abundantly.
As long as we’re here, be assured it is “our time” to make a difference. It doesn’t matter if we didn’t start on the right path, have some things we need to clean up, or struggle every day to do the right. As long as we’re breathing God can take our mess and make it into a message. Thank goodness He does not give us what we deserve…
The arrogance of “what I deserve”
I’m come to the realization that I want a life far beyond the one I “deserve”. We run around talking about what we deserve, but if we’re honest with ourselves we know that we can jack some stuff up. Remember a couple of days ago when your mouth ran away from your mind? Or how about last week when you looked at that woman and had a thought so nasty you even shocked yourself? Seriously – if we spend our lives pursuing the life we deserve we’re going to bitterly disappointed if God ever gives it to us.
These days I try to look past what my little finite mind thinks I deserve, and instead concentrate on what I’m worth. You see, our worth is defined by who and whose we are – a beloved child of God, created in His image, and imbued with purpose and a promise for a great future. That’s what I want for my life, and it’s way more than I will ever deserve. Ain’t God good?
Aging is a glorious adventure. It’s also a hilarious and humbling experience as every part of your body races to see who will hit the floor first. I’m learning to enjoy the journey and count it all joy.
God has great plans for you and I, and I believe we’re just getting to the good part! Drop me a line sharing your story. Can’t wait to hear what God is depositing in your spirit!
Hugs and Blessings ❤
Jeannine B says
Thanks for another great message and happy belated birthday! Wishing you all God’s best!
Katrina McGhee says
Thanks Jeannine! So, so grateful for to be here to celebrate another year. 🙂