How many times can I possibly start over? As I headed out for my walk/jog this morning, I couldn’t help but laugh a little – Day One AGAIN. I can’t tell you how many times I have begun the count. I train for something and either the event happens or I get sidelined. So, I start again. In this latest case, I was doing so well at running a little every day. And then…I fell. I fell hard and that took a toll on my body for a few days. I am fine. All heals and I move forward. So I look out at the morning sky and start Day One, one more time. And it is okay.
We have lots of Day One events in our lives. We begin a new health journey – then a holiday comes or a special event or there are cookies in the house. So we start over again the next day. We decide we will make a change for the better that will improve our health. We do so well until we don’t. So we start again, again, and again. We decide we will improve our spiritual health and we begin that journey. Sometimes it takes and sometimes it doesn’t.
Life can feel like a whole bunch of Day One starts. And these can be seen from a couple of different perspectives. It can be completely and utterly frustrating. How many times can we actually mess up? How many times will I get hurt before I just quit starting again? Do we really care about eating well anyway? Why not just give up on this whole journey anyway? That’s one approach – but it sure isn’t all that helpful. It really just digs our hole of despair a little deeper.
Our other option is to look at this as a gift. We get the privilege to start again. We have an amazing opportunity to make a difference one more time. We cannot worry about tomorrow. Past failures are just that – PAST. What we have is today – Day One – and it is good. Day One means we start clean and fresh. There is an excitement that promises are ahead. Possibilities are ever before us. It won’t be easy, but it won’t be accomplished without a Day One. So, get up and get started. This IS a new Day One! And I can’t wait to see what it holds.
May you find joy in your Day One. May you be filled with hope no matter where your journey takes you. May you find peace as you seek to do what is good, right, just, and loving. Now, get up and start your Day One!
Today’s focus scripture is God’s Day One for each of us- and it is quite amazing.
Focus Scripture:
Genesis 2:4b-7
In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
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SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 