This One's For All Of Us

This one is for the high school student who can't wait to graduate.
It's for the college student who is waiting to jump headlong into a career.
This is for the new mom who's days seem endless and for the mom of school-aged children who can't catch her breath.

This really is for everyone, man or woman, because we all are caught in the same struggle; we all walk the same tightrope. The one that has us trying to enjoy what we have now, while looking forward to the future.

"Be Content With What You Have"
Growing up, I was always looking forward to the "next exciting thing" that would happen to me. When the school year ended, I couldn't wait for September again for all my clubs and groups to come back. I wanted to be older. Thank God that He didn't let me skip huge chunks of time like I wanted to do.

In Jordan Lee Dooley's book "Own Your Everyday" she says, "this is the good stuff." Not ten years ago or ten years in the future, but today. This season. NOW. Contentment leads to joy and peace in our lives and allows us to enjoy whatever season we are in at the time, despite the hard things that accompany the time we are in. Each and every stage of life has blessings and struggles. What will we choose to focus on?

"The Best Is Yet To Come"
Contentment can lead to complacency if we aren't careful. Instead of simply being thankful for where we are, we get comfortable and end up staying where we are. Not that we can stay in high school forever, but maybe we don't do things that will really shake up our life. No growth in our life is not a good thing. We need to have some sense of expectation; we need to look forward to things coming. This gives us goals to work toward and provides motivation to live life fully.

The danger comes when we elevate the future over the present (like I used to do). We think that the best is always "yet to come" and we miss what we have right in front of us. We might miss opportunities to serve others if we are always thinking that our time is still down the road.

The Tightrope
Like so many things in life, I'm finding that there is a tension to be kept between the two; a tightrope to be walked. Somehow, we have to balance contentment and living for this season, this time, with expectation and excitement for the what the future may hold. We don't want complacency and we don't want to be constantly grasping for what is ahead.

More often than not, I get these out of balance. I let fear keep me focused on today because I can't think about the future and it hinders my progress and growth. Or, I get so excited for an upcoming event or thinking about how wonderful the next stage of life will be that I miss out on the blessings I'm living now. Sometimes they are in balance though, and it is a beautiful thing when they are. Those are the times I'm most at peace and growing the most.

Where do you tend to land? Have you found a good balance in your own life?