Of Simple Things: October 2013

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I think the last year of a university degree is usually one of the hardest. Other than the fact that the courses and assignments generally get harder and the expectations higher, I think the most difficult part is actually being so close to the finish line!

Lately, I've been feeling really exasperated and impatient to be done with my studies. My mind is just bursting at the seams with ideas and projects and plans of all the things I wish to do once I'm done with all those readings, assignments, and exams!

At one point I began to notice, however, that this line of thinking was creating in me a sense of discontentment and 'boredom' with my present circumstances and duties. The other day, I was watching with my little sister, Gracie, one of theLittle House on the Prairie episodes ('No Place Like Home' - extended edition). Caroline (Ma) was telling Charles (Pa) that it was time to move back to their home in Walnut Grove after their long stay in the city to help Mary to settle down in the new blind school. It was not easy for them to live in the city. Charles, however, kept saying that things will eventually get better sometime soon and so on. It was then that Caroline said something very important that really convicted my heart. One of the problems with people in that city, she noted, was that they're always looking for something better...'tomorrow', but they miss the joys and blessings of the today and, therefore, 'tomorrow' never really comes! It is an existence of endless 'tomorrows'. How true that is! This perfectly describes the world we live in these days, doesn't it?

This just startled me! I realised that's exactly what I've been doing...looking for something 'better' than what I'm doing now...looking for 'something better'...tomorrow and thus missing the blessings and joys and the opportunities God has given me for today.

Tomorrow will come soon enough if I'm contended and happy in the 'todays' of my life. I need to believe in my Heavenly Father's perfect will for my todays and trust Him for His perfect will for my tomorrows. It brings such relief and peace when I think like that. It's amazing how much of a burden we carry when we try to live only for tomorrow, missing today!

I hope you don't misunderstand me! It is not wrong to hope, dream, imagine, or plan for the future...I don't think I can stop myself from doing that anyway and I think God does want us to look forward to all the things He has in store for us, too. He gave us minds and He does put His will and desires in our hearts in order that we can ask Him to fulfil them. However, I need to have contentment with the now and know that 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,' as it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1. He has a perfect time of fulfilment for everything in our lives!

I'm not there yet, but I'm asking the Lord to help me to rejoice in Him always...even in the things that I'm 'bored' with...with the mundane and common...with the 'valleys', as well as, the 'mountains'!