anticipation

Life is full of things to get excited about. Let's consider for a moment the rush of joy that swept through the "Old Ladies" intramural basketball team as they watched the final seconds tick off the clock to signify the end of a long hard road to claim victory in the championship game against their foes "The Soccer Girls." Did victory ever taste so sweet? Maybe only once before to this palate and that would be the conference championship in track and field the year before, not of the intramural flavor for that one.
The previous epic is only one example of a multitude of sources that provide countless waves of soothing adrenaline (if such an oxymoron exists). Another timeless classic dates back to hours ago and many miles that separate the kindred spirits of sand, sun, and tan bodies. The exact moment is hard to recall for I fear brain cells might have been scorched in the meanwhile, but according to sources one young female runner momentarily paused to remove her shoes before jaunting directly into the 64 degree waters that lap at the gulf coast. These are the same waters that routinely carry years worth of work and toil and growing species onto the sandy shore for seagulls and eager visitors to pick and choose at until all that remains are the broken, the forgotten, the sun dried remains of what once was delicately intricately beautiful and desired.
Ahhh, now that's a moment to remember. Excitement over things past, memories that dance and flow in the neuron connections between cell bodies, smiles that wisp across mouths as eyes stare dreamily into the distant white screen and walls that hold nothing but paint, these are the things that renew the mind and rejuvenate the heart, or are they?
What of the things to come? What of the unknown, the planned trips and visits from and to and with him or her? What is there to keep me guessing about tomorrow as long as today is called today? I tell you what it is, the plans of the Creator, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Son of God, the Holy Spirit who dances and sings and gives feeling to all the memories both past and future. The dictator of all future plans; yet, giver of all choices known to man...? A juxtaposition if I there ever was one (a word from AP English in HS; thought it was applicable).
We can plan and toil our days away under the sun, or in the rain as it falls repeatedly to the ground to create massive roadway lakes that flood the shoes and dampen spirits as well as jean cuffs. The despair can creep in as we wait for what we think is the best plan, or we can live in anticipation of the good things to come. Spending every waking moment in communion with the ONE who gave it all and stands at the heart's door knocking, though sick at times from our wandering hearts, there He stands...knocking, knock, knock, knock (Rev 3 - letter to Laodicea).
So we live, we go on about the day in anticipation for the moments that will take our breath away, whether in the sun, the rain, the comfortable, the familiar, the new, the humble, wherever He chooses to show up and lead us by the hand.
I look forward to the journey.