A Good Day

We all have a finite number of days to live on Earth. Some people get more than others. And while there's always time for play and sleep, most of our time gets taken up with routine tasks, schooling, working or just finding our way through the world. And at the end of the day, to steal an expression, most of these 24 hour blocks seem to come and go as commonplace, unnoticed or quickly forgotten about.

But along the way, if we're lucky, we're granted one or two rare gems known as a good day. Or even, a great day. The allotment of these special dates also varies from person to person. But we all get 'em; days when everything seems so right with the world; when the soul is overflowing with happiness and when "it’s good to be alive" is more than just an overused expression or exaggeration.

And no matter where currently situated on life's timeline, I think all would agree that any good day is a good thing-like the cream center of an Oreo or dollop of whipped cream on a piece of pie. They're like life's little deserts; brief breaks from the desperately ordinary. These golden days become branded as special or cherished and, when things go south again, are the first ones we'd get in a time machine to go back and live over. Indelibly etched in memories, these are the days we wish would go on forever.

Sometimes, for a while, they do. And, like standing under a stalled weather front of lingering well-being, it feels like being showered in ambrosia. But these days never last. And if you're smart and understand life, that doesn't come as a shock. Nothing in this world is permanent and things balance out eventually, good and bad. However, if you're not so wise, like me, often you don't figure out how good you've got it until it isn't anymore. When the good days are dried up and gone. And then this bit of reality becomes an unpleasant intrusion.

What happened?

Regrettably, when I get so used to the good times of summer I find it easy to forget that winter isn’t ever all that far behind. But in the middle of July and basking in the sun, who's thinking about the coming snowfall? When things aren’t so bad so bad, I have a tendency to forget about the true source of happiness. I don’t remember to acknowledge the giver. I just go merrily along like a 300 pound guy at a buffet-  Hey, cream puffs!  There's plenty more where this came from.

No, except for Charlie Sheen, most times there isn't.

Time and again, my sky has become clouded over and chilly. It's just how life ebbs and flows; we all go through up and down cycles. And right now I'm in kind of a down mode; in the middle of a string of rainy days. And when it does, though it’s not always easy, I continue to get up and function because deep inside I'm still running on hope. Because, more than likely, the sky will eventually clear and God will shine on me again; I'll be given another good day, or good month, good friend or good whatever.  Life evens out, I really believe that.

Just as I believe God likes to give good surprises and good stuff-- even to the undeserving, like me. And though I have no idea when it's going to happen again- which is why it’s called a 'surprise'- when I do get singled out for another of these amazing God-gifts again, the clouds will pass. And hopefully, I’ll remember to lift my eyes to the Son again, more thankful in the moment, and in my prayers.