Seize the Day

Carpe Diem and The View From Your Window

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

I know I was dreaming, but it all seemed very real. I saw a man go to a window and as he looked out, he said, “Your view looks to the past.”

Well, whoever heard of such a thing? How can a view from a window look to the past? It obviously looks to the present, the here and now, the moments.

Whenever the window of our souls or the windows of our minds begin to see only the future, it means one of two things. On the positive side, it bespeaks strategy, planning and downright HOPE! On the other hand, counselors tell us when we only look to the future, it is easy to slip into a state of anxiety, being anxious about something that has not happened.

To look to the past also has a double lens. On the one hand, it is reflective, introspective, and can be a look into our thoughts, past actions, and characters. However, if we stay looking into the past, we begin to wander down the road of regret and tend to get lost.

No wonder the Psalm writer gave thanks for the day. The word THIS implies the present, the now, today, THIS is the day the Lord has made. We have a choice on how we will view the day – both to see it and to seize it.

Carpe Diem, according to Dictionary.com, is used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future. It is Latin for “seize the day,” a quotation from Horace, Roman lyric poet in the time of Augustus. The day is a gift of the present. Sure, some days we would like to flip a day or two ahead or relive special memories of yesterdays.

And not every day is filled with rays of sunshine, but rather overcast skies filled with lightening, thunder and rain. These days can be hard to maneuver especially during times of loss, trauma, or abuse; and can overwhelming with sadness, sorrow, and grief. Those days seem like nighttime all day long, and It would seem we can’t even catch a break or our breath!

But there is Son-shine and rays of hope. Psalms 30:5 says, “… weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” and morning is the beginning of a new day. While the night is dark, lonely, and long, morning must come because it is God’s order of Creation. Joy will come in the morning – joy, a fruit of the Spirit, (as opposed to conditional happiness… which is another blog!) will come.

Morning will come and with it, the energy of joy and gladness to seize the day. I don’t mean to oversimplify, but when God lines up a brand-new day, it is reason to rejoice, for it is filled with His promises.

The past can be a wonderful place to visit with its panoramic view, but we can’t live there. We already have.

The future can hold promise and excitement, but we can’t live there either – it doesn’t exist in time yet. The uncertainty is difficult to maneuver and trying to get comfortable there makes us lose sight of life today, life in the moment, the now view from our windows.

But today, moment by moment, is to be cherished, celebrated, and anticipated with delight, because God has given us a new day filled with hope and promise. Even amid life’s circumstances, we can find a reason to rejoice.

So, if you will, do me a favor. If you are struggling with “this day,” find some things for which to be thankful. Set the timer, and just make a gratitude list. Surrender to seizing the moment, then moments, and let the joy of today wash over you. Let the joy and love of the Lord fill your space. Dwell there and experience the joy there. Call a friend, send a text, draft an email and be grateful.

And when tomorrow comes, do it again.

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