Enjoy the Present

Apart from fly-fishing my favorite hobby is landscaping.  My wife and I several years back, bought a home on one acre of property.  I wanted more but at the time it was all we could afford.  This acre had no landscaping except for one hillside that had a few plants and some roses by the front door.  The thing that drew me to this home was that it provided an empty canvas for me to paint my own vision into this acre of property.  Since then I have planted an orchard, a vineyard, a garden, laid a lawn, created a patio space, play structure, sand box etc.  One of my favorite joys in this world is sitting in my rocking chair and enjoying what God has allowed me to create.  This is what I love about barbecuing as well. There is nothing better than preparing a pork shoulder, filet of salmon, setting it on the smoker for eight hours and sitting down with friends, family and enjoying a good meal in a beautifully landscaped yard. 

Sometimes life can be moving at such a fast pace that we can miss the enjoyment of it.   Solomon towards the end of his life shares some wisdom warning us of that truth as he writes,

“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work, this too, I see is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

What I love about this wisdom from Solomon is that it causes us to slow down and find satisfaction and enjoyment in the little things.  In addition, he informs us of the truth that you won’t be able to find it without God. 

I challenge you today to slow down and allow your relationship with God to enable you to enjoy the little things in life.