Last night while watching television, we saw a commercial – I think it was a tourism commercial for Michigan – that said something like, “You only have 25,000 sunrises on earth; enjoy each one.”
My husband, of course, immediately got out his telephone calculator and figured out that 25,000 days equals about 68-1/2 years. Seeings as he turned 66 on his last birthday, the thought sort of freaked him out. “I only have about 900 sunrises left!” he shouted. I assured him that since his mother is recovering from hip surgery at age 91, he will likely see more like 34,675 sunrises – 10,585 more. I also noted that he pretty much misses out on the sunrise each day because he is still sleeping. I, however, am awake for most every one. I think, however, I am missing the point of the commercial.
The notion that we have a limited number of days on earth is always a disturbing one for me. I can watch an entire week go by and on Saturday, I look back and think, “Where did last week go?” It really is true that we should enjoy every minute we have on earth – every sunrise, as it were.
Living in the moment is not something at which I excel. I’m always looking back, often with anger or disappointment, or looking ahead, often with great dread. But God’s gifts to us are everywhere – in our friends and family, in the world around us, in the joys and even the frustrations.
Today, and in the days ahead, I am going to try and concentrate on each minute. I’m going to notice the grass is turning green after last week’s storm. I’m going to enjoy being in my nice, warm house when tomorrow’s anticipated snowstorm hits. I’m going to pay attention to things around me.
Excuse me now, while I go to look at the sunset.
No comments:
Post a Comment