I think we just had two weeks holiday! Now, I’m not sure what your holiday break was like but mine reminded me of when I played blues and jazz music. This style of music requires you to make stuff up as you go, especially when you play alongside someone else. Because you don’t know what notes are coming or where the music is going, you learn to roll with it and fit in with other musicians. My holidays have been a whole two weeks of that type of ‘impromptu’ living.
My family had some news before the holiday that led to a string of decisions each day. Each decision could only be made after we got the results of the previous decision. On each new day, something new would happen and we would turn to each other and say: “Well, this is today’s adventure!”
Saying this reminded us to stay in the moment and helped to keep us above any struggles rather than sinking in them. Taking things day by day is a vital skill and we are encouraged by our Heavenly Father to do no more than today. Emotionally carrying yesterday and reacting to what might happen tomorrow only limits our ability to be fully present in today. Instead, we need to learn to trust Him and roll with what comes.
I could not think of better message to give you as we continue into the final sprint that is Term 4. Our Year 12s need only to do each day, each exam or moment of this final few weeks. Parents and teachers too need to hear the message that our yesterdays and tomorrows only get in the way of doing today well. As Jesus encourages us, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.” (Matthew 6:34)
Peter Chase
College Chaplain • Pastoral Care