I saw a bald eagle Sunday afternoon! I was watching the ducks gliding and diving when they suddenly startled and flew as a group to the other end of the pond. The cause of their fright flew low over the pond, then over the corner of the yard near me. A bald eagle is an awesome sight and one I’ve never before been privileged to see in the wild. (The photo was taken at the zoo.)
Watching that eagle was a reminder of the many “firsts” I have experienced right here in my own back yard. I’ve seen things during the past few years that I didn’t expect to see and certainly didn’t plan to see. God has graced my life with a variety of sights and experiences that have enlightened my mind and delighted my soul, and I didn’t do a thing to deserve them. He knows that in order to balance my life and keep my positive perspective I need a regular dose of nature and solitude. It has always been so, since my childhood days of wandering the fields and woods.
Our lives are a mixed blessing of things that happen to us and things we cause to happen. I have always been fascinated to observe the reactions of two people to the same event. Our will, our attitude, our choices often make the difference between a problem created and a problem solved. And it seems to me that the crucial difference between two people is usually their perception of how much control they have over their own lives. “Let go and let God” is my mantra, but God does expect us to exert a little willpower over our daily lives. Otherwise he would not have given us a mind or allowed us free will. And He expects us to work until he returns. Some of that work involves others; some of it is work on our own minds and bodies and souls. The Bible is the ultimate self-improvement book!
I’ve already mentioned that I have a few self-improvement plans brewing in the back of my mind that I want to implement in 2013. I don’t really make resolutions, but I can’t help thinking about little changes I really need to make in order to improve my health, expand my horizons, and prepare for the future. I’m not getting any younger you know! Then it occurred to me yesterday that I am not being true to my own words. That future date on the calendar is not something I should be waiting for; if indeed I need to make changes there is no better day to start than today!
So…I begin today knowing that God has the ultimate power over my life and may choose to bless me with something wonderful or present me with a problem to solve. I have control over my thoughts and actions today and…
I have only today to make changes,
Only today to be a better person,
Only today.
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