"What if you had only a day in which to do the one thing that matters? Today is the day." -Jan Frazier

PDVD_024   "Today is the day." Or is it? Isn't it more likely that you and I will build a raft of excuses for why this is not the day and thus squander more of our precious moments or, like Bogart in "Casablanca," try to drink away whatever grief afflicts us.

   The good news is that you, as a caregiver, will in fact do many things that matter. You as a light bearer are engaged in meeting the needs of others. 

   The moments you waste are not because you do tasks but because you may do many of them mindlessly. I have this problem – especially because I love to daydream.

   Why do you and I live so much of our lives in this way – missing the actual moment in favor of savoring another?

   It is incredibly hard to live a mindful life. Fear dogs your steps and blocks your way to the freedom with which you were born – to living a joyful (though not necessarily happy) life. 

   What is remarkable is that the Love you seek is completely within your grasp. How maddening that Love seems so elusive when it is, in fact, here already. 

   I often wonder how many of us live as prisoners. You are free within your being yet you may allow fears of your supervisor, your mortgage or anxiety about illnesses that may befall you, to penetrate your natural serenity.

   Who are you within and outside your own skin? Today is your day to ask Love to answer that question for you.

-Erie Chapman

 

3 responses to “Days 307-311 – Today is the Day”

  1. ~liz Wessel Avatar

    Erie, the ending of your essay is a poignant but beautiful question. Each day we get a “second chance” to open our hearts to receive and give love. Befriending and loving authentically and when we hear Love’s gentle whisper, by opening the locked door from within.

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  2. Cheri Cancelliere Avatar

    Erie, Your words remind of the most personally convicting passage of Scripture to my life situation. When will I ever stop being a Martha and learn to be still?
    “The Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing” (Luke 10:41-42).
    I know this yet I keep slipping back into old patterns of worry and distraction. I choose to let go of them again today, for they rob me of the “one thing” that I truly need! Sometimes we need to hear wise words such as your to remind us when we find ourselves back on the hamster wheel!

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  3. sbeng Avatar
    sbeng

    Erie: How many times are we reminded to take each day at a time. How many times we hurry and scurry to get things done and at the end of the day we are worn out! In simplicity He reminds to trust in Him and He will supply our needs. There are times He bids us to fellowship with Him and gets ourselves refreshed in His Presence. In Him is fullness of Joy…as nurses we all can do that.

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