You're a Mist

I believe in eternity. You and I will be around forever. Not in our current state, obviously, but we are eternal beings.

So on one hand, I have all the time in the world.

But…

I also believe the person ahead of me should have figured out their order before reaching the drive-thru speaker.

You had the entire line. You watched six cars move forward. How are we just now considering the possibilities?

And there I am, a man who’s been given everlasting life, losing my joy over four minutes.

We can get so caught up in what’s right in front of us that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

James has some help for us:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13–14

Well, good morning to you too, James!

I’m making plans. Starting a business. Trying to have a productive year.
What do you think, James?

You’re a mist.

Couldn’t we ease into that a bit? Maybe start with something encouraging about my potential? Nope.

But he asks a question worth sitting with: What is your life?

Most of us live like we have more time than we do. When we’re young, everything takes forever.

I can’t wait until I can drive.
I can’t wait to graduate.
I can’t wait to get married.

Then somewhere along the way that changes.

Wait! Slow down. How is it November? We just had Christmas!

I’ve reached the age where I can wake up sore from sleeping. Sleeping!

I was lying down, under a down comforter. How did I get injured?

James reminds us how quickly our days pass. And when we remember that, it should change how we spend them.

Let me share something embarrassing but true:

I give a lot of my life to things that don’t deserve that much of me.

Somebody makes a comment. They’ve moved on. They’re having a sandwich. I’m still holding a meeting about it in my head. Replaying what they said. What I should have said. I win that argument fourteen times!

Meanwhile, somebody I love is sitting across the room and I’m barely present.

I can wake up perfectly fine (emotionally), pick up my phone, and seven minutes later be upset about something happening in a town I’ve never visited, involving people I will never meet. Then someone in my actual house needs something.

Not now. I’m dealing with a situation in Sheboygan. There’s a drought!

That question from James helps me ask another one:

Is this worth the amount of my life I’m giving it?

Some things get smaller when you ask that.

Being right about every little thing.
Keeping up with someone else.
Making sure everybody knows your side.

Other things get bigger.

Being present with your family.
Calling the person you keep thinking about.
Bringing yourself to apologize.
Having the conversation about Jesus.

We keep saying:

“We have to get together.”
“When things settle down.”
“When work slows down.”
“When we get through this season.”

Of course we can’t do everything today. But we also shouldn’t keep postponing the very things we say matter most.

Tomorrow isn’t something we possess.
We have an opportunity to be faithful today.

Who needs my attention?
What have I been putting off?
What am I allowing to take up space that belongs to something better?

And to be clear, enjoying your life belongs in this too.

Laughing with your kids.
Dinner with friends.
Taking the walk or the trip with your spouse.

Let’s be awake to the life God has actually given us. Let’s spend less of it rehearsing offenses and more of it loving people. Less of it trying to impress people and more of it being present with them.

Life is short.
Give your attention to what matters.