Blank Page
I write a lot. Sermons, newsletter articles, letters, blogs...and there are days when I stare at the screen, hoping that something will come out when my fingers begin pressing the keys. Sometimes I'm up against a deadline (you know how Sundays come EVERY week?), and other times I'm simply trying to get started. There are days when that blank screen, that blank page just stares back at me, taunting me, asking me, "Do you have anything today?"
Some days I want to answer back, "Nope," and turn off the computer. But did I mention that Sunday comes EVERY week? Did I also mention that you can't just preach the same thing you did last week? Some people would notice. Not everyone, but some would.
For those of us who write a lot, blank pages can be frightening. But, viewed from another perspective, blank pages are also opportunities. Every day is a blank page, or should be. Sometimes, in our lives, we carry over things from the day before. We're still angry about that slight from yesterday. We're still fuming over the person who cut us off the week before. And before we know it, the blank page that is a brand new day gets stained. The "ink" from the day before leaks through.
I think that's why the Scriptures counsel us to not let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26), to not let the things of other days intrude on today (Matthew 6:34). Jesus says, "Each day has enough trouble of its own." That's so true! (Well, of course it is, Jesus said it, but I digress...) If we bring yesterday's or tomorrow's or next year's "ink" onto today's blank page, we risk not being able to fill up the page (the day) with the things of today.
Forgive while we can. Settle things of the day on that day. Treat each day like a blank page, a fresh start, a new beginning. Today is a gift from God. Use it that way, as a precious gift.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear that Sunday is just six days away...
Some days I want to answer back, "Nope," and turn off the computer. But did I mention that Sunday comes EVERY week? Did I also mention that you can't just preach the same thing you did last week? Some people would notice. Not everyone, but some would.
For those of us who write a lot, blank pages can be frightening. But, viewed from another perspective, blank pages are also opportunities. Every day is a blank page, or should be. Sometimes, in our lives, we carry over things from the day before. We're still angry about that slight from yesterday. We're still fuming over the person who cut us off the week before. And before we know it, the blank page that is a brand new day gets stained. The "ink" from the day before leaks through.
I think that's why the Scriptures counsel us to not let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26), to not let the things of other days intrude on today (Matthew 6:34). Jesus says, "Each day has enough trouble of its own." That's so true! (Well, of course it is, Jesus said it, but I digress...) If we bring yesterday's or tomorrow's or next year's "ink" onto today's blank page, we risk not being able to fill up the page (the day) with the things of today.
Forgive while we can. Settle things of the day on that day. Treat each day like a blank page, a fresh start, a new beginning. Today is a gift from God. Use it that way, as a precious gift.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear that Sunday is just six days away...
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