April 08th, 2019

April 8, 2019
 
              We are a week into April, with Easter coming soon and spring showing more and more beauty. Of course, many of us are aware that this year which we just started is now into its second quarter. Time is rushing by us again, making our heads spin with the speed at which each day passes. As my father used to say with a smile – instead of “tempus fugit” meaning time flies – “Tempus fidget”.
              Most of our New Year’s resolutions are long broken and forgotten, but perhaps April is a good time to contemplate where we are and where we’re going – and whether that going involves walking with our Lord. He was such a person of purpose. In the wilderness He gained a solid understanding of His ministry, what He must do on this earth before He returned to His Father’s house.
              Purpose does two things for us. First, it gives form and focus to each new day. Second, purpose cultivates forward thinking. We not only know what we need to do today but also what we are going to do tomorrow in order to accomplish our goals.
              I like to remind retired people that even though they have the right to rest a bit upon their laurels, they also need purpose, if only to realize that they are not just going away from a major part of their lives but also going towards another major part. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” is not just a cliché but a realization that so much is left to live for.
              A friend of mine is retiring this spring after a long career as a master teacher. She has embraced the charge and challenge of offering children both learning and life skills but now she is moving on, and the end of that career could be daunting. Instead, she is bubbling over with dreams because she now has the time to convert her parents’ house to a retreat center for quilters and other groups. What my friend has discovered is purpose with a capital “P” and as a result, change is much easier than it would be for anyone who only saw retirement as an end.
              Jesus offers us His example of focused purpose, promises to share our burdens, and guides our steps if we are willing to spend a part of each day in devotions and prayer. Happy April, and Happy Life!