This morning I woke with a memory of the time I was waterskiing a few years ago. The waves were pretty choppy, the wind cold, but I was determined to enjoy the last moments of summer with one last run around the lake. My huge, python-like arms were getting tired when all of a sudden my ski dipped beneath a wave causing my feet to stick, then pop right out of the boots as I continued to hold on to the rope a split-second too long. For a brief moment I was a cartoon character come to life with feet dangling behind me as I clung to that boat line…then… SMACK! I face-planted right into the water with ringing in my ears and a moment of blackness – I had given myself a slight concussion. Lesson – learn when to let go. I’m reminded of a Rob Bell Nooma video from a few years ago called Today. In it he talks about embracing today and not getting mired longing for ‘good old days’ of the past which prevent us from truly engaging in our lives and finding new life.
…how much energy do people spend wishing things were how they were? If you need to celebrate how good it was then celebrate, if you need to remember how great it was when they were alive, then remember that. And if you need to grieve, grieve. If you need to apologize or make amends or you need to do something to make peace with how it was then do it, but then move on. I mean there is a certain kind of despair that sets in when we believe that things were better back then. When we’re stuck back there and when we’re not fully present, when we’re still holding on to how things were – our arms aren’t free to embrace today…The answer is to be so fully present here and now that you don’t miss a thing in this day … and you don’t have any regrets because you were there the whole way. - Rob Bell
So, here’s to embracing today and fully appreciating love, life and making every moment count.
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