Carpe Diem

No future plans. Uncertain times. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, yet alone next month or even next year.

These words don't sit very well with a person like me. I like to have a plan. I like to know where I'm going and what's ahead so that I can prepare and be ready for it.

When G was given the opportunity to lead the European offices for his company, we knew that it would be a 3 year task, followed by G transitioning someone else for the role, and finally our move back to Dallas. That was our plan. An easy, relatively risk-free move knowing we would be back again in a few short years.

With the economic climate as it is at the moment, it seems that all plans for the future are irrelevant and inconsequential.

I have to pause even as I type that so that it can really sink in, and so that I can catch my breath!

No plans. No idea of what the future may hold. This is not really my style, and to be quite honest, this idea has been quite tough to come to terms with in my head.

But I do have to tell you that with this ambiguity, I have been feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment. Quite unexpectedly I might add! I've been internalizing these thoughts and have finally come to the conclusion that all of the planning and looking ahead that I burden myself with actually takes away from my enjoyment of the present.

Our minister, Don Underwood, years ago gave a sermon entitled The Station in the Distance. His fundamental point was that so many of us miss out on the joy of everyday life and the love of those around us because we are thinking that life will really begin when we get to that next station. That next station might be a new job, the perfect home, a baby to complete the family... we spend our lives getting ready and looking ahead to what may come and we miss out on today. I remember sitting in the congregation that morning hanging on his every word. I don't think I have been missing out per se, but I do spend much of my time and energy doing the planning and looking ahead to what is coming.

A positive of this uncertain economic climate is the feeling of contentment and gratitude that comes from simply being in today, from not knowing or worrying with what tomorrow holds. Not being able to plan for the future. The sense of freedom that this brings is liberating.

And so today, my only plan is to enjoy that I have been given another day, to enjoy being with my children who are healthy, happy and oh, so full of life, to enjoy and support my husband who is employed in an engaging job, to enjoy the opportunities that we have been given by living in London, and to enjoy being free from the worry and burden of planning for tomorrow. Carpe Diem!

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Matther 6:31-34