Christmas Day … son’s graduation day … daughter’s wedding day … any adult birthday that ends with a “0” … What do these days have in common? My answer is that these days are: (1) on the calendar for months; (2) take a lot of planning and preparation; (3) take most of your focus for the final days leading up to the “big day”; (4) probably leave you physically, emotionally, and maybe even financially exhausted.
Do you know what else they have in common? They all have a “next” day. Well, duh, blogger boy!
Stay with me for a moment.
I’m not talking about the next calendar day. I’m talking about the sense that we all have of “what’s next?” We have spent all this time, preparation, focus, energy, and money getting ready for the “big day.” It’s over. What do we do now?
I’m pondering that today because last night was my 7th Harvest Baptist Association Annual Celebration since I became Executive Director. An annual “big day” is a double whammy because you know it is going to come around again. There is a great temptation to begin today planning for next year. I’m deliberately avoiding that today and thinking about what it takes to make the most of life’s “next” days. Here are some suggestions:
- Recharge: I slept later than normal this morning. That’s not always an option, but it is a good one to take on a “next” day if possible. I have some tasks that are necessary for today and I also have some things that I am planning to do simply because I WANT TO. It’s not a “day off;” it is a day of unplugging from the push of the urgent and renewing focus on the important. Consider it a “mental health” day.
- Reflect: Think about the special “moments” within the event. Laugh at the little things that didn’t go exactly as planned. Focus on the people with whom you shared the experience, rather than on the sequence of events.
- Reframe: Put “big days” in perspective. While “big days” are an important part of life, they are not the essence of life. In my opinion, life is a journey of ordinary “moments” where there is an awareness of God’s presence and purpose and the pleasure of companions with whom we are allowed to share them. Every day is a “next” day on this amazing journey called “life” and every day our lives matter to God.
The Bible records a “big day” for some of Jesus’ followers (Peter, James, and John) in Matthew 17. Space doesn’t allow me to include the text here, so you will have to look it up yourself and notice how Jesus took his friends from a “big” mountaintop event back into the valley of ordinary life with ordinary people.
Jesus wants to be our companion for all our “next” days. How will you respond to His invitation?
Question: What other strategies have you found helpful in dealing with “next” days?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to learn from you.
