“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

There are four major events that are affecting the lives of all who live in the U.S. They are: Covid 19, climate change, inequality and employment uncertainty.

Any one of these taken individually is a big challenge. Taken collectively as we must, they form an uncertain picture of our future. This is new territory!

Because life can only be understand in hindsight, we must draw upon what we’ve learned in order to help us navigate the future. Because we all must deal with the new realities together, we must come together and go forward together.

Common threats should unite us, not divide us! We must communicate with one another and love one another. Whatever differences we may have are insignificant compared to the tsunami ahead!

If not today, when?

“You know it’s love when all you want is that person to be happy, even if you’re not part of their happiness.”    (Julia Roberts)

What Julia Roberts is teaching us is that true love is unselfish and never self-serving. All of us have different definitions of love. I think sexual or passionate love is what most people would describe as love. There’s also the love of parent and child and “philia” which is friendship or shared goodwill.

Then, there always is self-love which can be healthy or unhealthy. This form of love can be dangerous when it places self-interest above the common good.

Regardless of which kind of love pertains in your life, you will always be content with yourself if you have the happiness of others as your greatest yearning!

If not today, when?

My great aunt used to tell me, “We’re living in a terrible world.”

I was always amazed that she felt that way about life because she had a very good life while living in a small town with no financial worries. She was a spinster who lived all her adult years with her sister, my grandmother and my grandfather.

Grandpa owned the only hardware store in town, so money was not a problem. Despite her obvious pessimism, she lived to be 102.

Maybe she was able to look beyond her own idyllic life to the suffering multitudes around the world. Of course, she lived through two world wars, also.

I’ve never been a pessimist, but I am well aware that millions of people around the world won’t have enough food today.

You and I must lighten their burden!

If not today, when?

This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect. (President Eisenhower)

He was referring to the world at large, but the same applies to your community and your neighbors. Everyone in America is hurting in some way right now. It could be fear of the pandemic, a loss of employment or the divided nature of our present day society.

These are huge issues if we only had to contend with one at a time, but taken together, they’re overwhelming.

The answer to all three worries is LOVE, LOVE LOVE!

We must reach out with kindness and compassion to everyone we see in this emotionally difficult time. Let’s lighten the burden of others and by so doing, lighten our own burdens!

If not today, when?

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.'”  (Billy Graham)

Even Billy Graham had his ups and downs just like the rest of us. Yet, he was born in 1918 and died in 2018. What a long and productive life he had preaching all over the world!

It should be reassuring to you and me that he was subject to all the human frailties that we experience on a regular basis.

I think the message of his life was to believe and trust in God and turn to Him in prayer while getting about the business of living life to the full.

Just like Billy, let God into your life!

If not today, when?

Ah! The age old topic of worry raises its ugly head once again.

Do you spend most of your waking hours worrying about something or are you actually at peace with yourself and your situation?

In my opinion, the only things worth your worry are those problems that are within your grasp to solve. You see, I connect the word, “worry” with the word, “action!”

Here is a simple question? Do I have the ability to fix this thing that I’m worrying about? If yes, go do it? If no, there is nothing you can do. So, don’t waste your valuable time with it one minute longer.

You have a right to be at peace with yourself, but peace will only come once you face up to those worries that are actionable.

If not today, when?

On this 4th of July, we must pause to examine what it means to be an American.

For those of us born here, it’s practically impossible to appreciate the magnitude of our citizenship. Yesterday, an Afghan soldier, who was a translator for us, became an American. In the past few years, he had  saved the lives of many of our troops.

I’m sure he could tell us more eloquently why he wanted to become one of us. Yes, every immigrant can explain it by looking back at the huge contrast between life in their native land and now as an American citizen.

My grandma’s sister died on the boat bringing her to Ellis Island and past “The lady of the Harbor” holding her torch high for newcomers to find their way.

Don’t ever take citizenship for granted!

If not today, when?

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” (Helen Keller)

She was born with two closed doors: Deafness and blindness. Yet, she became the first American woman with that disability to earn a college degree and enjoyed a career as an activist and lecturer.

How about you? Are you still staring at a closed door? If she could find open doors without the ability to see nor hear, you must have more open doors awaiting you.

Today is the beginning of your life. You can’t take it backward, only forward. Our society is going through unparalleled uncertainty. Therefore, many doors are now open that were not available only four months ago.

Look for them!

If not today, when?

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try!” (Alexander The Great)

Progress must always begin with the first step. Is there something you want to do or become? If it is something very important to you, it will probably take a great act of willpower on your part.

Are you up to it? Is it some accomplishment you have been avoiding recently or for a long time? Maybe now is the time to give it a try. Remember, it is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all!

Take tiny steps as you begin. It might also be good to announce your goal to another person who can help hold you accountable. Will the attainment of this goal make you happier?

If so, go for it!

If not today, when?