Monday, July 6, 2009

Today.


"Then the Lord answered me and said, 'Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; it will certainly come, it will not delay.'"
-Habakkuk 2:2-3

"If your vision is for a year, plant wheat.
If your vision is for ten years, plant trees.
If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people."
-Chinese Proverb

"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing."
-Albert Schweitzer

"When we forgive and forget, that's one thing. When we remember and choose to forgive, our memories can become memorials to the grace of God."
-Ed Young Jr.

Okay, I am going to continue the blog at least until I get home from Utah. That would be July 22nd. I have had so many folks tell me I need to keep this going but let me remind you, I am no longer pedaling across the United States. In fact, I'm at home working in my yard, running errands, and building a fence for our chickens. Today I went for a short bike ride, got the oil changed and tires rotated on our Explorer, and watched a little bit of the Tour de France. Tomorrow I plan to ride in the morning, clean the garage, wash the car, watch the team time trials in the Tour, and get some stuff ready for Utah. How exciting is that?
Today was what most folks would call ordinary. Nothing unusual . . . no mountains to climb, no big chunk of miles to pedal, and no scenic photos to load. Plain vanilla day. But aren't most days ordinary? Tomorrow most of us will do just about what we did today. There may be some variety but for the most part tomorrow will probably be a copy of today. Right?
We are not even promised tomorrow. James 4:14 says, "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like a morning fog -- it's here a little while, then it's gone."
Hebrews 13:8, I believe, let's us know of the uncertainty of tomorrow, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." I thought about that verse for some time and wondered why it wasn't written with, "yesterday, today, and tomorrow." I believe now it's because, as followers of Jesus, we've already experienced yesterday, and we have today, and forever is promised, only tomorrow is in question. As Christians we experienced Jesus the same yesterday and today as we will forever. Tomorrow we can't be too sure of.
I just heard a guy from Mayfield, Kentucky sing a song on YouTube. His name is Kevin Skinner, he's 35, plays the guitar, and you need to hear him. At first, like the judges, you won't expect much but check him out, give him a chance, and you'll be blessed as I have . . . even if you don't like country music. His song is a Garth Brooks song. I think the title is, "If Tomorrow Never Comes." The final words of the song are: "Tell that someone that you love . . . what you're thinkin' of . . . if tomorrow never comes."
There's a quote we've all heard from our moms, especially during the homework years, "Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?" Too many of us have turned that thing around and said, "Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?" But what if, as Kevin sang, tomorrow never comes? Then what?
We all have things we need to do today. People we need to hug, people we need to thank, notes we need to write, cards we need to send, calls we need to make, apologies we need to make, people we need to forgive, and loved ones who need to hear "I love you." You know how it goes . . . our intentions are good but we simply don't get around to it today. Let me remind you, even the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Intentions without actions mean nothing. Do something.
Want to change your days from ordinary to incredible? Do what you're planning to do, today. Do what you need to do, today.
You'll not regret it.

2 comments:

  1. "Blessed" and "country music" do not go together. I do not like country music. It is an alien plot to take over the United States and get us mind-numbed. I will not fall for this evil alien plan. I will not become a zombie country-listener who's just waiting for the mothership to come by and throw my shoes over a power line. No sir, bob! And thank you for pointing out one of my favorite sayings and one that has really molded and shaped my life for the past 30 years or so: "Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?" I think Ben Franklin or Albert Einstein or Eddie Murphy may have said that.

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  2. Oh yeah, when is this break over and you start riding again? Where are you, like Wyoming or something?

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