It Happens
Perhaps you recall one of the most quotable movies which debut 37-years ago, in 1986 called Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. One of the most memorable quotes is, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it,”
How true this witty and funny quote appears, and yet the hard truth and reality of it sets in as you go through life, and realize how fast it truly does move, and, even, perhaps how much of it you have missed.
The Bible is clear about this also, "whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14, NKJV).
So? What are we supposed to do with this information? Are we to live a life that is so fast paced, so full of doing what we want, getting what we want, stepping on whomever we want, since life is brief? Absolutely not. Let’s face the reality, life is not about us, it is not about getting what we can, and dying with the most money, it is about serving others.
But… Life happens, doesn’t it? We all get caught up in the hectic nature, the busy chaos, the rigmarole of it all. We often get trapped in the identity of selfishness, my needs, my expectations, my stuff… now - having a realistic sense of the value of who you are is absolutely important and vital, knowing who you are is healthy - trying to live to please and gratify the nature of the self - is not healthy.
Life still happens, doesn’t it?
We find out that we get hurt, broken, or we forget or even lose our sense of self-worth at times. Our PTSD kicks in, depression and anxiety may take over. So what do we do with all of this? How do we manage through the storms and trials knowing that ‘stuff happens?’ I am writing as a man with storms and stressors presently striking the foundations of my being.
Life happens, but do we have a choice on how it happens or how we respond to how it happens? We cannot dictate how life transpires, God takes care of the days, and years of our lives, which may make some people upset at certain things.
such as -
“Why did this happen?” or “If God is good how come this is taking place?”
There certainly are a lot of things to be said for those two profound questions, perhaps I will dedicate a blog article to those questions - but for now, life keeps happening. We continue moving through life one-day at a time - often one-minute at a time, or even one-second at a time.
What can we control? We (I) can control how to respond to what happens in our life, to the way we actively engage our faith as bad and seemingly unfair things take place. Life does move pretty fast, people get sick overnight, and everything changes in an instant, doesn’t it? People you thought were friends may show different flavors in the blink of an eye, or you may lose a job, have an accident, or a myriad of other possibilities can take place in a moment.
How do we get through it? Medication? Therapeutic interventions, prayer? Faith, isolation, depression, anger? Sure all of those are on the table aren’t they?
The author of James in the Bible says this, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12, NIV). One answer to how we “get through it” may not be popular at all, and yet it is true, we get through it, by going through it. We get through, by going through the storm and struggle, through the pains of the battle. We get through it, also, by knowing we are not alone, we don’t walk alone, we have friends, others who will come alongside of us, we have God who promises never to leave or forsake us, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, NIV).
No one wants to go through a test or a trial in this life, but it refines us as we go through the process. We know life is a vapor, it is fleeting, we also know that everyone will go through a trial in this life (at least one). Are you going through it now? How are you walking through it? What are you doing for you? Are you allowing life to beat on you, or are you being strong and courageous as you walk through it knowing that you are not alone?
Life moves pretty fast, things change in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye. I do not intend this blog/article to be therapeutic or a counseling intervention, and yet it is appropriate to offer a couple of closing considerations.
As we move through this life, it is crucial to understand we are not alone, and we are not here for a lengthy stay.
In light of the first contemplation, recognize that life is fleeting, what time we have is unknown to us, but fully known to the living God. How we live now, the choices we make now, determine our eternal destination and final stay in eternity.
Take time, as Ferris Bueller might direct you - ‘to stop and look around’ or else you might miss the beauty around you, even in the midst of the struggles.
Don’t take yourself overly seriously, laugh at yourself every so often, learn to live in grace and take time to see others with eyes of grace and love.
Remember everyone is struggling in some area, just as everyone has something to be thankful for, and Someone to be thankful to.
Be kind to others, even when they are unkind to you. Bob Wiley (What About Bob? 1991 played by Bill Murray) would probably say it like this, “if I meet somebody who I don’t think likes me I say to myself, ‘Bob, this one is temporarily out of order.’ Don’t break the connection just hang up and try again.” (Top 10 Lessons to Learn From ‘What About Bob?’ | Blog By Bake (wordpress.com)).
Although we don’t have the payphones or party lines any longer, we may understand the sentiment - if someone is not kind, don’t rule them out, life is moving quite quickly for them also, they may have to stop and look around, they may not be in the headspace to show kindness presently, which doesn’t mean that they are unkind. Try them again, later.
Any other considerations we can take away from the fact that life is moving pretty fast? We cannot change it, we can only live in the day we have been given. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, since it is always today. Let’s look at the fast lane of life and figure out how to live in it well. We can lean on each other and God.
Leaving you now with one more quote to help in this race of life -
“All I have to do is take one little step at a time and I can do anything!”’’
(What About Bob?)
If we learn to take it slow, one step at a time, live in grace, we can make it through. It won’t always be easy, it won’t always be fun, and the way we make it through may not look the way we want it to. The point is - to learn to live today in the day, and to love well, since we know life happens.
It does happen doesn’t it? We can take a little step at a time and move forward, while stopping from time-to-time to take a look around.
Find and count the blessings in your life today. Live in those. I am here if you need me.