What Good Does Today Hold?
When I first woke early this morning, I noticed the ceiling fan was not turning. Then also heard an annoying chirp, like from a smoke alarm, but faint. So faint that I dozed back to sleep, but on the next awakening noticed the ceiling fan turning. After a few trips in and out of slumberland, I got out of bed and entered the big chill, so to speak. We keep the house cold at night with blankets piled high, but this was frigid air.
Our power has come and gone on a fairly regular cycle of 30 minutes on, 30 off today. When it’s on we try to enjoy and even act like it’s on for good. But when it’s off we put on another layer and even light the gas stovetop for extra warmth, all 5 burners!
This too shall pass, I’m sure, and we’ll be a little tougher, hopefully, having endured another challenge requiring a little more grit.
But then I thought of my father who recently turned 85, so I checked on him. Then the boys, daughter-in-law and grandkids. Then my wife’s family who are all north and west of here and in much colder temps. Then my brother in Colorado Springs and others in other places. All are good, thankful.
But my wife just informed me of a close friend who lost a sister yesterday. She was about our age, which doesn’t seem very old. My thoughts immediately went to a few favorite lines, such as the following:
Don’t count the days, make each day count
It’s not quantity, but quality of life
Today’s the first day of the rest of your life
Make each day your masterpiece
But also thought of a book my mom mailed to me when I lived in Thailand after college, during a one-year mission internship. The book was called The Precious Present, a parable about a special gift. I remember reading it and honestly thinking, “I wonder what the gift will be?” Then soon realized that the gift is today, now, the precious present of time before each of us.
While looking for that book this morning, I came across another favorite given to me by one of my best buds. That tome entitled “A Touch of Wonder,” by Arthur Gordon, written in 1974. On the last page is a quote, “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of one small candle.” A few small candles that have lighted the darkness for me over the years are memories of conversations, laughs, smiles and tears with family, friends and sometimes even acquaintances. Gordon’s final line of the book is
“No man is so poor as not to have many of these small candles. When they are lighted, darkness goes away... and a touch of wonder remains.”
What if you only have today? Make it count by reaching out to others individually and intentionally, not on social media. Light some candles, make some memories and make the most of this precious present.
Make it happen.