The Day is At Hand

I tried a new art technique with my little art class at the nursing home. Up till now, we have just been working on drawing objects using simple, basic shapes. Today, I introduced shading. We did a picture of a sea gull, and I wanted to teach them shading techniques to "suggest" waves of the ocean without having to draw in every wave. I expected them to struggle with it, but they did quite well. I had a few new students this week and one just watched (and sometimes slept) but seemed glad for the company.

Somehow, that launched us into a discussion of all our unique talents and how each of us had been very good at something. One of the sweetest, most humble women there told me her gift had been art.
"Really!" I said, "I can tell you used to draw."
"Once, I won a prize," she told me smiling, "For drawing a pair of mittens."
"What did you win?" I asked.
"First place," she said grinning a little self consciously.
Another was a good cook, another a seamstress, and another a pianist. They all made no move to leave, though the class was over and it was lunch time. They all seemed to have fond memories of that one thing they used to be good at.
"I don't draw anymore," said one, "My hand shakes too much."
"I can't play a note on the piano now, of course," said the pianist.
"I don't cook anymore, but I did use to be quite good," said another.

Still, no one looked sad for the skill that had blossomed and now faded. They all seemed content to sit in the cascading colors of fond memories. We as a culture spend so much time fighting the natural progression of aging. It was pleasant to be in the company of people content with where they had been and quietly satisfied with where they were now, making the most of fading abilities to learn a new skill in the twilight of life.

My Bible study that morning had been about how one of the greatest tools of Satan is to have us focus on the past, or even better, the future. If one is obsessed with mistakes or glories of the past, one becomes bitter and unhappy with what cannot be changed or disatisfied with what cannot be rekindled. If one becomes too obsessed with the future, it often brings useless anxiety and fear. The time to focus on is the moment at hand. If God has given us the breath of this second, and we are grateful, we have overcome a great deal of what robs us of joy.

One woman, upon finishing her picture, peered at it and said to the woman beside her, "We are regular Grandma Moses-es here!"
"Yes, we are!" laughed her friend.
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Matthew 6:31-34 

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 23:1-6 

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Isaiah 43:18-19 

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Romans 13:12 

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.