Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Stars and Snowflakes

I've reached the point in our packing where I'm wandering from room to room with glazed eyes.

I start packing a few boxes in the basement, then I go upstairs for something and notice that the hall closet has stuff that definitely has to be sorted and combined into a smaller space. Then I go in our bedroom and put a few items of clothing into a plastic tote.

I decided it's time for a break. A little time to focus. It's time for (miracle of miracles!) Focus Friday.

We load the moving van on Tuesday.

Sometimes I feel like we're ahead of schedule and we'll be completely ready.

Other times I look around and wonder if we'll ever be ready. 

I guess we'll keep plugging away and be as ready as we can be on Tuesday. One way or another, we will move to South Dakota. 

I took a little time today to go out for coffee with a friend.

To some, that might seem crazy when we have so much to do, but it was important to me, so I made time for it.

When I got back to Allison, I did a couple of errands and then I worked on packing again. As I worked, I thought about how nice it would be to go out for coffee with more friends before we leave this area. 

Time is ticking away, so that just won't work, but it got me thinking about how important it is to do things when we're thinking of them so we don't have regrets later. 

I shared this quote by Marie Beynon Ray a little over a year ago, but it bears repeating tonight (coincidentally given to me by Joan, the friend I went out for coffee with today).

Begin doing what you want to do now.

We are not living in eternity.

We have only this moment,

sparkling like a star in our hand--

and melting like a snowflake.

There are things I wanted to do while we lived in this part of Iowa, but I never made time for them, and now those opportunities are gone (I know they're still possible, but it gets more difficult when we'll be living six hours from here).

There are people I wish I'd gotten to know better, but I didn't make the effort to call or get together with them, and now distance will make those relationships harder.

There are books I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are songs I wanted to sing while we lived here.

There are letters I wanted to write while we lived here.

There are gifts I wanted to deliver while we lived here.

There are hugs I wanted to give while we lived here.

I've pretty much run out of time.

Those "sparkling star" moments in my hand have melted like snowflakes, and I'm left with little puddles of regret.

I'm left with two choices: Sit and stare dismally at the melted moments I missed, or dry my hands and prepare for the new "sparkling stars" that arrive daily.

I can write the books I want to write.

I can sing the songs I want to sing.

I can write the letters I want to write.

I can deliver the gifts I want to deliver.

I can hug the people I want to hug.

But first, I must finish packing and enjoy our final few days with our church and community here in Allison. There are lots of sparkling star moments ahead...for all of us!

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." (Psalm 147:4-5 NIV)

Have you ever thought about how we aren't living in eternity? How can focusing on God help you to do the things you want to do and not have as many regrets?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on our Life Calendar

This week I watched a video about procrastination (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU) (I think I was putting off doing something I really needed to be doing at the time). It was funny and hit a little too close to home, but Tim Urban ended with the sobering thought that all of us are procrastinators in some ways. 

We may not all push up against actual deadlines, but we put off doing many things in life that don't have a tangible deadline. We don't do what we've always dreamed of doing because it's scary or uncomfortable to step out and try something new. We keep going in bad relationships because it's easier than dealing with whatever is going wrong. 

He showed a picture similar to this one that shows a ninety year life in weeks:

I'm fifty years old. Over half of those little squares are gone already. I can't even be sure I'll make it to ninety, so that adds even more urgency. What am I doing with all of my remaining squares?

I guess I've been thinking about that a lot this week. Am I going to just keep letting the weeks fly by and never accomplish the things I say I want to do? If I make it to ninety, am I going to look back at all of those little squares representing my weeks here on earth and have little to show for them?

My friend Joan shared a great quote at our writers group meeting last month:

Begin doing what you want to do now. 

We are not living in eternity. 

We have only this moment, 

sparking like a star in our hand-- 

and melting like a snowflake. 

~Marie Beynon Ray

Isn't that beautiful?

I hope it can inspire all of us to be much more deliberate about what we are doing with the moments God gives us. We aren't going to live forever. Let's get busy with the things God is prompting us to do: Write that letter, call that friend, write that book, start that business, take that vacation, finish that project, give your time or money to that organization that stirs your heart so much, love the people in your life well. 

We only have so many "boxes" left. Let's not waste them.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12 NIV)

Have you been procrastinating because there is no specific deadline for something you've been wanting to do? How can focusing on God help you to use your time wisely because you realize that your time here on earth is limited?