Now part 3
The future is always trying to pull us forward, while the past is constantly trying to hold us back. The trick is to live RIGHT NOW, with an eye to future, and by LEARING from your past but not letting it define you. I said that's the trick, because it can be kind of tricky. Its a balance. You don't want to sacrifice your future to live lavishly right now (i.e. getting in over your head in debt). And you don't want to let bad experiences stop you from having ANY experiences. What you ought to do... instead of not taking the journey at all, or trying to fast forward to the ending... is enjoy the ride. Look at Colossians 3:23, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Now I've preached this verse extensively regarding the "heartily" part. The idea of doing something because its in your heart to do it. And I focused on the word "unto." Because when you have the mindset of doing something FOR the Lord, "Jesus is my boss," and all that, then you lose the joy for what you're doing. It becomes an obligation. A weight around your neck that drags you down. But for this Rant series I want to pinpoint the phrase, "Whatsoever ye do." Because no matter where you are--or even where you think you ought to be--there's something you can be doing right now. And before I go any further I want to point out that baby steps will still move you forward. Look at Zechariah 4:10 in the Message Bible, "Does anyone dare despise this days of small beginnings..." Remember when we talked about the mustard seed? The smallest seed that grows into the biggest tree? What's that old saying? "I may not be where (or who) I want to be... but thank God I'm not where (or who) I used to be!" Its a journey. A process. And, in a sense, it starts right now. Because right now is what you have. So be a lighthouse. Shine your light wherever you are. Whatever you do... do it the best you can. There's a sign at work that says "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it." (Or something close to that.) Sometimes you have to give it all you've got no matter what the result is. And, by the way, that's my personal definition of love. Gladly giving everything you are and everything you have, no matter how it is received. Because getting someone to receive your gift isn't the point. Kindness isn't kindness if you're looking for something in return. And we should always be kind. Because that's one of the things (along with, say, forgiviness, and mercy, and grace, and love) that the world is desperate for. And if you're shining your light--LETTING your light shine--then you're giving the world what it needs. Whether the world knows it or not. Or will admit it or not. Or will accept it, or receive it, or not. But, again, that's not your business. Your business is love. Pure and simple. Look at what God told Jeremiah, "Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee..." (Jeremiah 7:27). The point is not whether or not someone listens. The point is that you are giving them what you've got. Doing whatever is in front of you to do. Living life to the fullest--right now--by doing what you can do, where you're at, with whoever you come into contact with. Do your best... and forget the rest. Give it everything you've got. Then it'll either be enough... or it won't. And either way, you've done what you could do.