“…Let’s talk about the future, let’s cool off with the rain.’ ‘Cause, there’s no way to change the past, take back a single word, undo what has been done.
Though you’re not where you were heading, just look how far you’ve come.’ …. Could I have watched more sunsets, walked more winding roads, been sweeter, softer, kinder, embraced this life I chose?
So, I’ve made a few adjustments to my treasure map of dreams. I’ve found that being happy pretty much depends on me.
I can’t go back and change one single thing from times gone past. But, each day I remind myself to treasure what I have. . . . Look how far I’ve come, look how far I’ve come!”
Responsive Reading for February 28
“Then the Lord said to Noah: Go into the ark …. For forty days and forty nights heavy rain poured down on the earth…. The flood continued upon the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark, so that it rose above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth, but the ark floated on the surface of the waters…” (Gen. 7:1-18).
“ I lamented to a friend about the things I hadn’t done, twists and turns I had not planned, doors that did not open, love that did not stay. She smiled and said, ‘That may be true, but hasn’t it been great? . . . Let’s talk about the future, let’s cool off with the rain.’”
“Remember how for these forty years the Lord, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness . . . . to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not. He therefore . . . fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:2-23).
“Leave the desert, come sit here in the shade…. ‘Cause, there’s no way to change the past, take back a single word, undo what has been done. Though you’re not where you were heading, just look how far you’ve come.’
“Your good spirit you bestowed on them, to give them understanding; Your manna you did not withhold from their mouths, and you gave them water in their thirst. Forty years in the desert you sustained them: they did not want; Their garments did not become worn, and their feet did not swell. You gave them kingdoms and peoples . . . . They possessed the land . . .” (Neh. 9:20-22).
“Was I so caught up in the process, in the how and what and why that I failed see the beauty in the days as they went by? Could I have watched more sunsets, walked more winding roads, been sweeter, softer, kinder, embraced this life I chose? . . . Look how far I’ve come.” I now see the beauty in the days that have gone by.
Moses & Elijah both spent 40 days & nights in prayer to prepare for new phases of action. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert …. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’ … and, behold, angels came and ministered to him…. that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled:… ‘the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.’ From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘… the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Others joined the Christ ministry (Mt. 4:1-17).
“So, I’ve made a few adjustments to my treasure map of dreams. I’ve found that being happy pretty much depends on me. I can’t go back and change one single thing from times gone past. But, each day I remind myself to treasure what I have…. Look how far I’ve come, look how far I’ve come!”