One of my favorite songs of all time…and yes, there are many…is Van Halen’s Right Now. I was in the car with my sister today and we were pulling out old CD’s reminiscing about the good ol’ days and singing away to this song and a few other faves. Then we found her significant, slightly obsessive Celine Dion collection and it was all over…but that is another topic all together. Let’s just say Maxwell got a little bit annoyed with us and went inside leaving us sitting in the driveway belting in the car for 20 minutes after we got home today. It is amazing how hearing a song takes you back to certain seasons or time periods in your life…whether they be good or painful times. What I continuously love about Right Now, besides the incredibly impressive piano solos (in which I still want to learn to play someday) is the reminder that I need to consciously and intentionally live in the present.
At times it is nice to reminisce and remember different eras in our lives. When we look back we can remember God’s faithfulness…that He was there for us then, He is here for us right now, and He will always be there in the future. But I’ve often found myself wishing I could go back to re-live special portions of my life, times I can never experience again, not to mention to certainly right the wrongs and change the regrets. But I’ve also found myself wanting to sprint ahead beyond whatever I am facing…especially times like right now. Sometimes it seems as soon as I climb up one mountain, I am instantly at the foot of another. Taking joy in the journey isn’t my natural instinct. I want to cross it off the list and move on most of the time.
Though looking ahead is necessary. It’s especially important look forward and think of our eternal destination…crucially vital in fact…for we are told by Jesus in Matthew 6:20-21 to store our treasures in heaven and not on earth where moth and rust destroy…for where our treasure is there will our hearts be also. But heaven knows I selfishly think all too often about what it will be like there because there will be no more crying or pain because of what Jesus has done for me. So how does my right now count for tomorrow?
What I am thankful for today is that I have today. That’s all any of us really have…right now….and I am challenged that what I do with it counts. I don’t have the certainty of tomorrow on earth. I am here right now where God has ordained and placed me and longingly looking back or straining to move ahead only takes my attention away from the here and now…what God is doing right now for His purpose before my very eyes. God gives me grace for today…not for the what if’s or the if this, then that’s. What am I doing today that will impact the rest of forever? Right now.
Wonders of HIS Love 