Yesterday, we got more time. An entire 24 hours. A whole extra day in the year that won’t be given again until 2028.
I don’t know about you, but it felt kind of like every other day. Too crammed, too busy, too chaotic. I’ve learned to breathe and regulate myself much better through it all. I understand the value of being present and enjoying each moment. Of being grateful. Finding gratitude. Joy.
It’s what Paul in the Bible encouraged us to do, as he sat rotting away in prison.
A lot of church people like to point to that time in Paul’s life and say, “see, you should be happy.” And yes, not to should on ourselves, but we should be happier more. I’ve got to imagine, however, that while Paul did find joy in all things, and used his time in that cold, dirty cell to advance the Kingdom of God, he didn’t want to be there, and I doubt he was itching to go back once he got out.
Those days were hard. And there’s the rub.
I think we forget in the “find the joy” flogging we do to each other and ourselves, permission to simply admit that our situations are not ideal. That we don’t want to be here, and that we’d like to move on.
So here we are, after an extra day in February, moving into a new month. If it’s good, find joy and bring it to others. If it’s bad, find joy, and get moving to better days. Preferably ones that don’t come around every 4 years.