More than 2000 years ago the Roman poet Horace coined the phrase “carpe diem,” or as we know it – “seize the day.” The idea behind that phrase is that one should enjoy and make the most of every day of life. I’m afraid not many of us took advantage of the days given to us this past year. We let the COVID-19 pandemic, the political unrest, the results of the presidential election, and other difficulties take away our joy, our zest for life, and replace it with uncertainty and anxiety. We did more than cover our face in public with a mask, we covered our joy, our peace, and our love and trust in God.
As I look back on the past year, I know I missed many opportunities to “seize the moment” and take advantage of the opportunities God gave me in the midst of the difficulties. God does not want us to waste our lives away. He wants us to “seize the moment” by living every moment, every day of our lives with purpose, that being to bring glory to Him.
Rahab faced a dilemma when the Jewish spies came to her house. She seized the moment by hiding them, and in doing so saved her entire household (Joshua 2:1-21). Esther seized the moment given to her, quietly approached the king, and saved the lives of countless Jews (Esther 5-7). Peter seized the moment by accepting the invitation of Jesus, stepped out of the boat and walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33). Four men, desperate to see their lame friend healed, seized the moment by tearing a roof apart to lower him down to Jesus. That lame man also seized the moment given to him by Jesus, picked up his bed and walked (Luke 5:17-39). Ordinary people doing extraordinary things by simply seizing the opportunities presented to them.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16).
How will you “seize the moments” that God has for you in the coming year?
“For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been!”
-John Greenleaf Whittier