Today - Frederick Buechner

It is a moment of light surrounded on all sides by darkness and oblivion. In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another just like it and there will never be another just like it again. It is the point to which all your yesterdays have been leading since the hour of your birth. It is the point from which all your tomorrows will proceed until the hour of your death. If you were aware of how precious it is, you could hardly live through it. Unless you are aware of how precious it is, you can hardly be said to be living at all.

"This is the day which the Lord has made," says the 118th Psalm. "Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Or weep and be sad in it for that matter. The point is to see it for what it is because it will be gone before you know it. If you waste it, it is your life that you're wasting. If you look the other way, it may be the moment you've been waiting for always that you're missing.

All other days have either disappeared into darkness and oblivion or not yet emerged from it. Today is the only day there is.

i don't see my days as precious like i should. i don't see or recognize all of the opportunities that lie in a single day. and i'm sure all of this makes my Father sad. how do i miss it? am i that focused on myself that i miss all of creation around me? sometimes, most of the time, yes. i was challenged by this last night and i'm encouraged to have a small group of friends that will help me as i try to take the focus off of self and "set my heart and mind on things above."

i'm thankful for today and pray that i will be open to see all that is here for me to see and enjoy.