Only one "today" ...

This is your last and only chance at it,

For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think

In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed.

Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on colors and scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange

For the hard work of staying alive.

Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!

This is your last and only chance at it,

For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think

In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed.

Eccl. 9:7-10 (Msg)

Life's last big hooray ... are we missing it??  Reminded again to ENJOY life!  I'm thinking Solomon must have been a good Baptist the amazing numbers of times he tells us to go out, eat up, and enjoy it!!  Now, if He'd tell us to eat Mexican EVERY day .... hmmmmmm ...could kind of learn to love that (well, I know at least Becca will agree with ME)!

SO, here's my rambling for today.  Do we enjoy life?  And if we don't, why not?  We've pretty much established that:

a. Life is hard sometimes, maybe all the time.

b. Bad things will happen in our lives.

c. As TN said today, God may make mincemeat of our plans.

d. There's LOTS we just won't understand

Can't wait on any of those things to change before we set out to enjoy what we have been given!

SOOO ... enjoy life.  Enjoy your day.   I think I do this LOTS of days.  But there are also LOTS of days that I just miss out on some of the amazing things God has given for us to enjoy!

Been thinking this morning about what makes me NOT enjoy life -

1. Being too busy.  Maybe that means there are some things I need to remove from my life.

2. Being too tired.  The introvert in me is often toast at the end of some college kids. 

3. Working too long.  Not sure what to do with that one ... sometimes that one just is.   But there are ways I CAN recoup some time if I look for it.

4. Not planning ahead.  It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting on the couch and I could have made lunch plans with a friend.  But I didn't cause see #2 above!!

5. Not being willing to be spontaneous.

6. Being lazy or selfish.  Sometimes enjoying life takes a little effort, initiative, and time!!

If life is to be enjoyed.  It's time to put a little more f.u.n. into the day!!  I know that looks different for all of us.  Somedays fun might be a long bubblebath or a long overdue phone date or making a cake or going on a bike ride.  Other days it's the biggees: going to the mountains, heading out to visit friends (not real sure why so many of you have to live soooo far away!), a four hour lunch with a good friend (at a Mexican resturant!!), a pedicure.  Today in the midst of my whirlwind retreat shopping, prep, etc ... maybe it's a SONIC happyhour diet coke or a quick run through the neighborhood ... but there's only ONE today and I'm gonna put a little JOY into it!  Hope you'll do the same!