I had this phrase on a whiteboard in my office for a few months. I’m not sure where I first heard it but I love its meaning. Those words have the power to change the course of your life. For me, it provides a fresh sense of empowerment. I know that what I do right now can make all the difference. Each of us has a choice in every moment about what we do or don’t do. Too often we take these moments for granted and time is one of those resources we can’t make more of. Time is a limited resource, and no one knows how much time we have. Understanding the difference between day one and one day add up to a lifetime if you’re not careful.
For me, it’s been many years since I last blogged after writing for almost 5. Over that time, I’ve seen many blank computer screens. I’ve also faced empty journal pages. This made writing not easy or enjoyable. At times I would get a little glimmer of light. Then it would burn out as fast as it showed up. I’d write a paragraph or two and then nothing. If I did make it past that, after rereading, I discovered they had no passion. In fact, I found many opening blog posts over the years that I started to create. I got really frustrated to the point where I just avoided it. Every so often when I thought about writing, I’d just go watch Seinfeld or The Office. 🤦♂️.
I’ve learned that while inspiration is amazing and can start your day one. It cannot always be relied upon to accomplish the things we are called to do. Sadly, inspiration fades and those emotions will disappear. I was definitely uninspired but does that change what we are supposed to do. If it does, you will not achieve all that is being asked of you. There will always be times when we don’t want to do something and yet know we are being called to. If we always wait for everything (emotions, inspiration, timing, etc.) to line up perfectly, we’ll be sitting on “one day” for a really long time, if not our entire lives. Situations and circumstance are rarely ideal for the things we are called to and even want to do. Sadly, I used them as a path. I created excuses. All of us have a choice because there’s always plenty of excuses. My dad told me that excuses are like belly buttons, everyone has one, and they all stink…now that’s wisdom! I will also tell you, the first time you embrace an excuse is the hardest. After that, it gets easier and easier.
Excuses are the highway to the parking lot of our hopes and dreams.
That parking lot is known as “one day”. Part of my “day one” was taking down my previous 5 years of posts except for some Cambodia trip memories. I must admit taking down those earlier posts was harder than I thought. I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears over that time. I didn’t have to remove them. However, it seemed like it was required. This was a means to draw a line in the sand. It signified that today is my “day one”. I can’t say 5 years of posts is this amazing feat but everyone likes to feel they have accomplished something. I decided to embrace the idea of building something new. There is something invigorating about starting with a clean slate. It is also challenging.
I love sunrises and sunsets, and in Ohio we have a lot of beautiful ones. What makes these so beautiful are clouds. They are not entirely engulfed, and we have plenty of them. It seems there are times when we (Ohioans) have more clouds than any other place in the galaxy. One day I was looking at a sunrise. I realized that each share the same incredible beauty. However, they represent opposite ends of time. The sunrise is the hope and promise of a new day. The sunset, a thankfulness for having the gift and blessing of that day. The unique meaning of both only adds to the beauty of each. The sunset of my previous posts warms my heart. The promise of what is to come ignites a fire deep within. In Jesus, every ending is the beginning of something more beautiful.
Don’t let the excuses of “one day” sabotage the glorious future that God has for you. All it takes is a simple yes. What is God calling you to right now that you are convinced yourself it’s “one day” instead of “day one”? One day is always “tomorrow” but Day One must be today. Do you have the courage to look “one day” in the face and turn that tomorrow into today? Today is the day!
