Even though our world seems quite inundated with misinformation and bad advice, it’s still possible to occasionally stumble upon genuine pearls of wisdom. And it seems like those pearls are often found in the most surprising and unlikely places.
While at the grocery store several months ago, a very kind, older “bagboy” was helping me put my groceries in the car. It was one of those gorgeous pre-spring days that remind me why I love living in the South. Back in my Indiana hometown, I’m sure that folks were still contending with icy windshields and frozen nostrils.
Commenting on the weather always seems like the socially appropriate thing to do in these situations, so I said to Henry the bagboy, “Wow – this sure is a beautiful day.”
He replied, “My daughter says it might snow this weekend, but today is a blessin’ … it’s a blessin’, for sure, so enjoy it.”
The grocery store parking lot instantly became a sanctuary, my shopping cart a pulpit for this wise and unlikely preacher.
“Today is a blessin’, for sure, so enjoy it.”
I needed to hear Henry’s mini-sermon on that particular day because I had just begun taking a new prescription medication in an experimental effort to knock out an insidious infection that dogged me for nearly a year. My doctor told me this medication would either cure me or make me worse, so I was feeling like a walking time bomb.
When I got that prescription filled and took the first pill, I also swallowed a disturbing dose of anxiety, as I waited to see if I would finally get better (which I did, I’m mighty thankful to report), or slide further into the abyss of physical misery. But Henry’s simple message in the parking lot reminded me of a profoundly practical and powerful truth: “Today is good. Enjoy today. Don’t worry about what might come tomorrow.”
In fact, Henry’s advice sounded a lot like something Jesus said 2,000 years ago: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34, The Message Bible paraphrase)
Henry’s eloquent encouragement to enjoy today reminded me that God doesn’t give me grace to worry about what MIGHT happen tomorrow; He gives me grace to deal with what ACTUALLY happens today.
Tomorrow, a blizzard may blow in; if it does, God will give me blizzard grace. Tomorrow, I may find myself in the midst of physical suffering; if I do, God will give me suffering grace. Tomorrow, I may face devastating loss; if I do, God will provide grace, grace and more grace. But today the sun is warm on my back, the breeze is cool on my face, I feel good, and I’m called to enjoy the blessing of it all.
And, even more, to enjoy the One who gives the blessing.
You can wrangle all you want to about “deep” theological issues like predestination, eternal security, and the mysteries of God’s sovereignty and the free will of man.
But in light of the fact that life is unpredictable, fraught with peril, and sometimes just plain hard, perhaps there is no deeper expression of faith than Henry’s advice: “Today is a blessin’, for sure, so enjoy it.”
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24