Happy leap day! The special bonus day that we get once every four years to put everything in balance. You don’t think today is special? I woke up, that’s pretty special to me! I feel like I spend time sometimes thinking about what I would do with a bunch of “extra” time. Bake, read, sleep in, pray, see friends, the list goes on and on like most people. If I only had an extra hour, I could…fill in the blank.
Guess what? You do have time in your schedule for all of those things, you are just currently doing something else. So you have a commute, a work day, dinner, bedtime rituals with kids, laundry, the list is long. Here’s the deal. You get to decide where to give your time- some are a given (work and kid obligations) but all the others you choose.
I used to listen to mass on my commute to work. Some prayer time before the day really began was necessary to my life. I also got up extra early to attend daily mass in person. I didn’t feel like I had enough time, so added it to my routine. In truth, those morning times before the sun rose were the peaceful moments I needed before the chaos. I started talking a walk each day after work, partially for exercise, but also for the fresh air. I used to spend the whole day in a building with thousands of people, windows that did not open, and a somewhat spotty hvac system.
Now since my commute is up the stairs in my house, I pray while I walk. Fresh air, quiet time, prayer. All good things. I’m in a book club so I make sure to get in one book (or more) a month. We make time for what we want to make time for. We get to choose. What are you choosing to do with your time? If you have ever lost someone you love, you know the value of an hour, or even a minute.
The woulda, coulda, shoulda boat has sailed. I have today. What can I do today to bring people joy? To be present to those around me? To eat healthy food? To contribute creatively in my job? It’s super hokey to say the today is a present, but it really is. What do you want to accomplish today? Who you want to see? How are you going to treat others or yourself? Is there an idea or seed that was planted that should be nurtured today? What are you waiting for?
Not just today, but every day that my eyes open is a bonus day. Today, this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad. Will you?
