Soak It Up

A few weeks ago our family basically took a tour of the state of Missouri. While it probably wasn’t the greatest destination or exactly what everyone pictured as the best vacation ever, I think we all ended up having a pretty good time. 

I spoke at an event in Conway, Missouri on June 5th and 6th, and had planned to do a Wednesday series on June 9th in Jackson, Missouri. The rest of the time would be spent doing family stuff and seeing various friends throughout Missouri. The first event happened but the second got cancelled due to a family in the church contracting COVID. A few other plans got altered as well so we ended up spending way more time in Branson than was initially planned. 

The whole week was an exercise in flexibility. However, that served as a learning experience to simply “be where your feet are.” I thought about the quote that I heard many years ago, “for I shall not pass this way again” (Etienne de Grellet). I couldn’t remember the rest of the quote but I thought about all the trips that I’ve been on through the years that involved going places and being around people that I might never see again. 

We are given one shot and one opportunity at life and it’s important to take in all that we can along the way. Instead of longing for the “next big thing” simply enjoy the company you find yourself in today. Or the sunset you are enjoying in that moment. You only get so many sunsets in life - enjoy them when you can. 

The gist of the quote is actually somewhat different than the meaning I had assigned it but only in the thing the author was trying to get us to focus on. It, too, is meaningful. The rest of the quote goes like this: “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again” ( Etienne de Grellet).

So today simply live in the moment. Enjoy the time with your kids. Enjoy the sunshine or the rain, the cool or the hot part of the day. Today, help someone in the moment. Say the kind word that popped in your head. Give a hug to the person you haven’t seen in a long time. You will not pass through this exact moment again. Soak it up and take the opportunity to do good. 

Ben

“So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭