“Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” ~ Dave Matthews Band (Tripping Billies)
Luke 12:19 “And I’ll say to myself, you have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”
Most of us already have all we need…and then some. Yet we are always longing for more. Sometimes it’s just difficult to keep an attitude of gratefulness isn’t it? Life’s struggles and circumstances beyond our control weigh us down far too often and we forget how blessed we are. We forget to LIVE. We forget to appreciate. We forget we are blessed. We forget to laugh. We forget to LOVE.
I’m back on the extremely stressful rotation at work this month and I’ve wanted to walk out more times than I can count and it has been only 2 weeks! I still have 3 more weeks left doing this particular job until I trade back again to the “relaxing” position. I said these words out loud yesterday to several people…”I cannot do this anymore!” I felt like giving in and giving up. I felt defeated. Aren’t you supposed to find a job that is fulfilling and doesn’t feel like work in order to be happy? (THIS job…writing and inspiring, is what makes me happy). Yet I need to be able to pay my bills and eat.
I have posted THOUSANDS of positive, inspirational and encouraging messages on Twitter over the last 2 years since launching my I AM ALIVE movement. I’m currently writing a book about facing fear with the power of Faith to live the life God intended. I have written entry after entry on this website telling my story with the hopes of helping others. Yet I still get defeated on a daily basis. It takes WORK and conscious effort to keep a positive attitude. And I do not think I am alone.
I have been thinking about the message at church from a few weeks ago. I have listened to this particular message again 3 times on the app and it’s still soaking in. Our pastor asked us to think of a word…a word that can revolutionize our life and relationships. And on the count of three, he posted it. It was surely not the word I had in mind, in fact, it was a word I have never heard before…”Spoudazo” which means to make every effort and get on this NOW! It is a call for continuous diligent activity. For me, that word and it’s meaning hit home in every aspect of my life. I have been called to be a light to spread positivity (but I have not been doing so on a regular basis because I have allowed stress to take control, make me tired and tear me down). I have been placed in my particular work situation for a reason…to make me stronger I truly believe (yet I’m losing my positive outlook and patience and not doing my best work). I have been called to be a caregiver for my father who is disabled (yet I am not spending as much time doing so as I would like). I have been offered a new life from someone who cares for me deeply (yet I am totally resistant because I am afraid to move forward in a loving relationship because I’ve been hurt so deeply in the past). My list goes on and on.
Maybe you can relate?
I took a much-needed vacation day from my hectic job today and should be on the road to Ohio at this very moment to see my favorite band in concert. However, circumstances beyond my control happened over the last 24 hours and I’m unable to go. I was up all night with a friend in need and with him at the hospital this morning and now sitting with him this afternoon. A friend in need of my support is way more important to me than any concert at this point in my life. The “old” me would have probably been upset that I had to cancel my plans but the “new” me is LEARNING to be more patient, caring and proactive in my personal relationships. Sometimes it takes someone else to tell us we need to be doing these things to give us the push we need (the church message). And sometimes it just takes dropping everything you think is important and doing what really needs to be done with absolutely no hesitation. I will continue to work on being proactive as I move forward in this journey. Will you?
In light of your calling, live worthy of it… Whatever that calling might be.
Life is short period. The people in our lives are what are important. Remembering to live in the moment and not always longing for the future is the only way to feel happiness within right now.
Spoudazo! Tripping Billies! Whatever term you prefer… Now is the time to embrace it. Seize the day! Carpe diem! Celebrate! Live! Laugh! LOVE!!!
And do it NOW!!!
I normally share a worship song at the end of most of my messages but today I find this one fitting. I was able to bless someone else with my concert tickets for tonight… It would have been 50 something ish DMB shows for me (I’ve lost count) but it is their first. It is a blessing to be a blessing… God’s grace inspires me. Thank you God for taking care of David today!
Eat, drink and be merry and GET ON WITH IT!!!
God bless!
Stacey ~ iamalive