What A Day!

“What a day!”  How many times have we said that?  What are we saying?  Possibly that the day exceeded our expectations?  Maybe our expectations were for something with less drama, or trauma, or stress, or requirements, or events.

What about today?  Is it living up to (or down to) levels of expectation or is it seeming to take on a life of its own without regard to your preferences?  We generally regard ourselves as rational, reasonable individuals.  Why, then, are we so frequently surprised by the content and production of the day?

My guess is that I apply unrealistic expectations of my day without thought of days gone by.  If there were any thought given in anticipation of the day it could probably have been defined as wishful or magical thinking.

When the Bible talks about “Commit(ing) your way to the Lord…” I would assume we could translate it “Commit your ‘day’ to the Lord…” because my ‘way’ and my ‘day’ seem to be inseparable.  Perhaps instead of starting my day with the prayer (generally expressed as a ponderous sigh) “Lord, prepare my path before me” I should say “Lord, prepare me for the path that is before me.”

Why don’t you relax for a moment, take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to all the little sounds in the room.  Odd, how we don’t normally notice so many of those sounds.  Let’s say a little prayer:

“God of the Universe, here I am.  Why am I so often in regret of the very recent past and in dread of the very near future?  Why can’t I peacefully accept the day with its eventfulness.  I can’t seem to ‘seize the day’ because so much of it seems to be owned and directed by others and forces beyond my control.  God, I really want the peace that says ‘What will be, will be.’  I know I’m always saying this, but I say it again, ‘I give it all to you.’

Now for the advice we frequently give to someone who has felt trespassed upon… ‘Let by-gones be by-gones.’  What I mean is; that day, yesterday, any day, is just as much history as the days of your great-great-great grandparents.  You cannot change a thing in the past. You may not be able to do much with what’s left of today.  We can surely do a little  something about tomorrow.  But first, let’s prayerfully surrender its outcomes to God.