As I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office waiting for my appointment to begin, I noticed a poster hanging behind the receptionist’s desk which read, “There are only two days of the year which you can do nothing about.” Can you guess which two days the author of the quote was talking about? To give you a little time, I’ll put the answer at the end of this blog entry :). A hint, though, is to quote Jesus saying in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Have you noticed how much time we spend ruminating over and over again about things we did or said in the past, or over things that happened to us or were said to us in the past? I, for one, have wasted so much time, energy and happiness going over and over things I wish I’d done differently. It’s like living in an ocean of regret, because for some reason I more clearly remember those negative things than I do the positive things. Why in the world is that the case? Maybe one reason, as illogical as it is, is that I hope by compulsively thinking about past mistakes, I can somehow fix them or change them or reword them or rationalize them…to make myself feel better. But, does that work? Not for me it doesn’t! All it does is waste the time I could be happily living in the present moment!
The opening lyrics to one of my favorite songs are “Every table is an altar, every breath is a gift from you, every moment is a treasure, every day is a kiss from you. So let our hearts be awake, be awake, be awake!” How can we be awake to the amazing gift of life that God is giving us this very moment when we are compulsively worrying about yesterday?
And the same is true for worrying about tomorrow. Surely we want to have plans and goals for the future, but if we focus all our attention there, it will cause us to be anxious, unsettled and possibly even fearful about things that haven’t even happened!
What has helped me tremendously to quit ruminating about the past or future is sitting quietly in the Lord’s presence, drawing attention only to the reality that I am in him and he is in me. This is not always easy for a professional ruminator like me, but its benefits are noticeable over time, kind of like gaining strength after consistent exercise.
Of course there may be traumatic things in our lives, particularly from our childhoods when we were extremely open and vulnerable to being hurt, that would benefit from visiting with a counselor or therapist so that we can understand where our compulsive thoughts and feelings come from. Understanding is good and helpful, but it may not be enough to set us free. The way we live today and the healthy practices we build into our lives, are hugely responsible for “rebooting” our nervous systems and allowing us to experience the beauty and wonder of being alive in this amazing world God has created.
So have you guessed what are the two days which we can do nothing about?
Yesterday and tomorrow!
About the Author
John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!