These Are The Days
I'm excited about this Sunday at First Baptist Church - FBCJC. We'll have another baptism, a blessing for the school year, great music, and delicious cookies. I'm also reflecting on the sermon "These Are the Days."
I adore summer. I also love new beginnings, like a new school year or the first days of fall. I try hard not to wish one away for the other, but I confess, it isn't easy to let these days be the days.
When I was young, I didn't always appreciate the present. My focus was on hopes just over the horizon. The years ahead seemed infinite like an endless supply stashed between half-empty bags of chips and expired green beans in the pantry.
But now, with more years behind me than ahead, I'm trying to pay attention—not just to the years, but to the months, days, and even moments. I want to savor them, to be wise, to remember what, or rather who, matters most. But it isn't easy to let these days be the days. I'd rather keep reaching past the years for the chips.
But the years keep looking back at me. Yes, in the mirror, but that doesn't really bother me. It's the years in those I love that catch my breath. You rocked them to sleep last night, and they'll drive themselves to school Monday morning. He walked you down the aisle yesterday in your wedding white, and today, you walked him down the nursing home hall before saying goodnight.
Time—you can have your way with me, but not with them.
"Slow down. Slow down. Slow down," I say.
But what God whispers back is, "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up."
These are the days.
If you want to join us on Sunday for worship, we welcome you warmly. Worship starts at 9 a.m. Perhaps there will be a word of encouragement and hope for you and your days (which make our years.) I really hope so, but if not, at least you'll get a delicious cookie far tastier than the stale chips and expired green beans in your pantry.