Look To This Day

There is an old story about a gambler who rubbed an Alladin’s lamp, and when the Genie appeared, he was given one wish, and one wish only.

He thought about it for a moment, and then said he wished for tomorrow’s newspaper. The wish was granted, and quickly he turned to the racing section to get the track results. Now, he could hurry to the track and place his bet on sure winners. But as he scanned the rest of the newspaper, his eye fell upon the obituary column, and there he discovered his own name.

How ironical! It is good to dream and plan wisely for tomorrow, but we cannot live on that street today. And worrying about the future will only sap our strength for this moment. Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” (Matt. 6:34)

We do not know what the future holds, but as Christians, we know WHO holds the future, and we are content. The past and the present are constantly changing, but there is ONE who never changes.

The hymn-writer has said it well:

“Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not...abide with me.”

Today is a gift which must be carefully unwrapped. There may be many surprises crammed into the corners and crevices, but they are all part of the gift, and I must learn to give thanks.

The poet has said:

Look to this Day!
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today well lived makes
Every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
(Based on the Sanskrit, c. 1200 B.C.)