Possibilities Ever Before Us

In the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens wrote one ending, then another alternative ending. After reading the novel, you can choose which you like better. An author can do this. Whatever the course of his or her story has been, they can play around with alternative endings. In real life, however, you and I can’t do this. The way we end it is the way we end it, and when it is done it is done. We cannot go back to a certain point in time and rewrite the story.

But here is the truth, and here is our hope: Anywhere along the way, we can change course. Anytime, and from wherever we are on our journey of life, we can begin to do things differently.

In a sermon on Time, my friend Herb Meza wrote:  “…time is sacred. Time is a gift from God and… every precious second comes to us laden with possibilities – for helping or hurting, loving or loathing, doing or undoing.”

In the midst of all of life’s struggles and worries, and I think particularly about where we are right now at this crucial time in history, I pray that you would begin to see the gift of time that you have left on earth as an opportunity: an opportunity to love more fiercely, to give more generously, to open our hearts more widely; to build bridges and to spread hope.

Let us pray: We thank you Gracious God, for the gift of life, the gift of time, and the gift of possibilities. Empower us to live fully, loving with all our hearts. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.