Shade Tree Wisdom 1/31/12

          Ah, end of the month already.  I was thinking during my morning walk of a TV program scene in which the fictional president ended each staff meeting with “Now what’s next?”

          So we come to the end of the month, and we need to say “Now what’s next”.  Let’s follow the advice of St. Paul.  He is writing his letter to the Philippians, and he does not wail about past failures or hurts, nor does he spend time fixating on past struggles, disappointments, or disputes.  No, He wrote,

“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things that are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3, 13.14.

          Each of us has disappointments in life.  We need to forget them, learn the lesson they teach, and go on.  Not “If only”, but rather say, “next time”.

          For as the child of God, there is always the "next time”, for God has surely and absolutely forgiven and forgotten the sins you repented of.  So start the month with “Now what’s next” and with God as your Guide and Counselor, the One who sent you the Savior, the month and time that lies ahead is filled with His blessing.

GPD 1/31/12