A Life Lesson from "The Kid"

Maybe there are magic words.

Or maybe it's a magic age I have to reach.

Or perhaps it's a magical event that has yet to take place.

Until then, I'll be waiting.

Just waiting.

Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting for 'real' life to start, that these days are just precursors to the life God wants to me to lead…later. My thoughts and words betray this emotion: "Well, when I get out of college, then I'll do that".  "When I'm married, then life will make sense."   "When I get a job, then I'll start making good habits."

I don't remember when I started 'waiting' for life to start.  It wasn't when I was in elementary school.  I suppose it's possible that as an 8-year-old, I thought life might get better later and that I had problems. (I mean, who doesn't think it's a problem when they have to go make their bed, or when they have to have yogurt for lunch instead of peanut butter and jelly?) But I do know for certain that before I could even drive a car, this pattern started.  When I get my license…when I turn 18…when I get to college…when I get a boyfriend…when I graduate college…when I grow up.

In the wise words of Amy…"We can't keep talking about what we're going to be when we grow up! We ARE up!"  [The Kid]

This is Amy. 

I don't think there is a magical age that you reach and then *ding* you're grown up.  This is life.  Right now. Right here.

It's not coming. It won't get here eventually. I'm living now. This day. This hour.

Am I making the most of it?

Am I making it count?

Am I living fully in the here-and-now?

Living fully isn't 'safe'.  It might mean getting hurt.  It means taking chances and stepping out in faith. Being vulnerable. Learning to love.  Striving to glorify God with how I am living in this moment.

As much as I would like to keep thinking that someday I'll reach a magical age and just 'get it' and life will start, I am reminded today that life continually keeps moving and I, with it.

Little Rusty: "How old are you?"

Russ: "Forty. In a couple days."

Little Rusty: "That is old! I'm turning eight. In a couple days."

…

Rusty: "So, I'm forty, I'm not married, I don't fly jets, and I don't have a dog? I grow up to be a loser."

[The Kid]

Russ and Rusty and their Signature "Hey!"

When my 40 comes, will I look back and wish I had lived life where I was? Will I wish I could redo age eight? 

Even as I look forward to Heaven and long for my completion there, may I be living to the hilt of this day. Loving God with all I am. Loving others with the love of God. And loving life for the gift that it is.

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." -Jim Elliot