01.22.21—Life Worth Living! – Matthew 6:34
My friend, may I ask you a question? Perhaps the past year may not have turned out quite like you had dreamed or planned. Accident, illness, hospitalizations and death may have visited your family? Now what?
My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day. I’m M. Clifford Brunner
I'm pushing 70. Wow! That's a milestone that kind of snuck up on me. It sounds old, at least compared to 60. On the one hand I guess I should be a bit depressed. But, as I think about it, I'm not. Sixty is something new. I haven't done 70 before and, who knows, maybe 70 is more fun than 60? I remember my old friend Pete the printer always had a word of wisdom when it came to growing older. He, being my senior by 10 years, liked to put a fresh edge on every birthday. When he turned 40 and I looking up from 30 he simply cracked a smile and remarked, "Life may be short but it's broad."
I've never forgotten Pete's philosophy. Lifespan does get shorter with each passing year. But, with each passing year it also gets broader, more challenging, more embracing and more potentially exciting. The key to Pete's attitude was his willingness to live life, one day at a time, never failing to enjoy the moment no matter the outcome.
Here's a story: Dick Lehman is a marvelous potter in Goshen, Indiana. One day a number of years ago he was firing pots at his studio. Having limited time, he decided to fire on a day when a stormy sky threatened. At one point when he was moving one of the large pots from the kiln to a cooling container outside, a gust of wind toppled his container and his prized pot rolled down a dirt bank into a large clump of wet grasses. His heart fell to his feet as he retrieved the pot, covered it up again, and "waited with certainty for it to cool and confirm it's almost-certain" failure. But when he uncovered the pot, to his surprise he discovered a colorful, photo-like image of the wet grasses on the side of the pot. This happy accident led Dick to pursue intentionally firing fresh leaf images onto his pots. As he experimented, he was able to create an almost photographic clarity to the images. Today his innovative fresh leaf nature images on pottery fetch very hand- some prices, once again proving the old adage: a happy accident may be the mother of a great fortune. (Melodie Davis.)
The past year may not have turned out quite like you had dreamed or planned. Accident, illness, hospitalizations and death may have visited your family. The stock market sent you reeling. Yet, can you find a way to pick up the ruined pot and unwrap it to find the treasure that remains? Out of illness-comes new awareness of the love and support of family and friends. Out of financial setback, perhaps you learn how to trim your expenses, or get by on less. The disappointment of not making it into the school or job of your choice turns out to be a blessing in disguise, and you find new meaning or new friends in another location. Each day, each moment really, is a fresh chance to begin again. Sometimes that's the only way we can keep going, living one day at a time; a broadening experience if we're willing to let it happen.
We pray. Heavenly Father. We know that out of illness comes new awareness of the love and support of family and friends. Out of financial setback, perhaps we learn how to trim our expenses, or get by on less. The disappointments in life sometimes turn out to be blessings in disguise, and we find new meaning or new friends because of them. Forgive us Lord when we don’t take each day, each moment and turn it into a fresh chance to begin again. Thank You for giving us the only way we can keep going, living one day at a time. Give us a willingness to let it happen by Your Holy Spirit. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.