Life is a myriad of trinities.

The trinity of God – Father, Son and Spirit.

The trinity of the universe – time, space and matter.

The trinity of man – body, soul, spirit.

The trinity of  music – melody, harmony and rhythm.

The list goes on and on.  In living life to its fullest, we must look at the trinity of time – past, present and future.

 

     1.  Don’t Live in Past Regret (Don’t cry over spilt milk)

Everyone has made decisions that he regrets later on.  As time marches on, one has a choice.  He can be burdened and badgered by past mistakes or he can learn, let go and move on.  Use mistakes for your betterment, but don’t harbor regrets.  We are infamous as humans for souring the present with poison of past regret.  Not only have we made decisions we regret, but we allow those regrets to live on and beat us down in the present.

     2.  Don’t Live in Past Glory (Don’t long for “the good old days”)

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the constant banter of “the good old days”.  Now, I don’t doubt that they were as glorious and wondrous as they are made out to be, but one has trouble focusing on living fully in the present if his energies are concentrated in the past.  The peak of some folks’ lives is the “book it” badge they won in third grade or the winning goal they scored in high school.  Hey, it’s great to have great memories, but don’t sacrifice your present and future on the altar of good memories.  If you are still talking about your high school “career” or college “glory” as a 30-year-old, you may be being held back by the “good old days”.

Now, I know some of us have a propensity for storytelling, but don’t let that stop you from adding to your stories!  Learn a new instrument, start a new hobby, write a book, run a 5k, go on a mission trip…expand your family nest!  Something!  I remember hearing an evangelist who had been preaching for 60 years say that he was going to learn Spanish so he could preach down in Mexico.  That’s what I’m talkin’ about.  That guy knew how to live!

One of the most annoying Christian songs I have ever heard mourns the loss of the “good old days”.  Something about the good old days of Andy Griffith or something or other.  Now, poor Opie had no brothers or sisters.  Andy and Barney were allergic to marriage although not allergic to women.  Barney always had Juanita to sneak off with if Thelma Lou was busy.  Maybe the good old days was Otis being drunk all the time.  Ha ha ha.  Real funny.  Wish I were there.  Andy and Barney and even Floyd (yes, I had to do a little research) were thankfully “saved” from taking the plunge of marriage.  Sorry, but this is not the good old days.

I am saying that not only does regret cloud the present, but the “good old days” may also water down the present.  (And sometimes they aren’t even what they’re cracked up to be.

3.  Don’t Measure the Past against the Present   (Don’t compare apples and oranges)

Life ebbs and flows.  Each day is unique.  Current circumstances are unique.  Comparing the present to the past is like comparing Michael Jordan to Lebron James.  They played/play in two different eras.  While Lebron and Michael both are highly talented players, Lebron plays in a mentally weaker NBA.  If you look at someone cross-eyed, its a foul.  Lebron is already mentally weak and while he is a top player of today’s NBA, there is no way he would have survived Pat Riley or the Bad Boy Pistons like Jordan did.

It is not fair to your children to compare Thanksgiving today with the Thanksgiving of your family 40 years ago.  Both are unique.  One cannot fully engage himself in nor enjoy the moment if he is under the pressure of outshining the past.

4.  Don’t Forget the Past (Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it)

While this may sound like a contradiction, it simply is not.  Learn from past mistakes and past victories.  Don’t continue to make regrettable decisions and don’t continuously reinvent the wheel.  Take from the past what will benefit you as you live the moment and plan for the future.

5.  Learn History (If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday – Pearl Buck)

The more history you know, the richer your life becomes now.  One may visit Ephesus and find it interesting, but it is infinitely more interesting when you know the history of the city.

A metropolis.  The New York City or London of its day.  The Romans built a huge amphitheater there.  Paul started a church there.  Paul invoked riots there.  In fact in Acts he was discouraged from entering the huge amphitheater where thousands had gathered and were chanting the name of their goddess Diana much like Americans stadiums rock with the chant of USA.  It would be akin to Vladimir Putin walking into Yankee stadium after the national anthem and flyover during a World Series game – without the political correctness and security guards!  He’d be gang-tackled by 50,000 people.

When you know the background and then walk into that amphitheater – amazing.  It is no longer just interesting.  You have just lived a deeper more meaningful moment because you knew the history!  Learn history – it only enriches life!

6.  Learn to Anticipate (The sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself – Jane Austen)

Anticipation is at least half of the fun.  Planning and packing and getting ready and preparing – it is a major part of the experience.  Every moment should be lived in three dimensions – past, present and future.  Many people only live in the past which is shallow.  Many people only live in the moment which is also shallow.  Many people only anticipate and when they should be enjoying something that they have anticipated, they are already anticipating the next event.  This leads me to number 7…

7.  Learn to Anticipate without Rushing (a bird in hand is worth two in the bush)

Anticipate the end of the school year, but do not miss enjoying the school year.  Anticipate marriage, but not to the extent that you don’t enjoy being single.  Anticipate the next child, but not to the degree that you are not enjoying the ones you have.  Anticipate going out to eat after the service, but not the behest of the sermon.  Don’t rush life.  Let events reach their full gestation period.  Enjoy the anticipation as much as you do the fulfillment.  Our moments should be rife with history and the moment and anticipation all at once.  Now that’s living.

8.  Live the Moment (Be where you are)

This is a disappearing reality.  In the name of living the moment, we miss living the moment.  We are so proud of our multi-tasking that we don’t know how to look someone in the eyes anymore.  We have forgotten how to listen, not to mention respect.  Children need attention.  They don’t need to be talked to while you are staring at a device or a screen.  The elderly need attention.  They don’t need you to interrupt their stories to take a call.  In fact, that is what living the moment is – undivided attention.  Sing when it’s time to sing.  Be patriotic when the flag is being raised.  Listen when it is time to listen.  Engage when it’s time to engage.  Eat when it’s time to eat.  Study when it’s time to study.  Play when it’s time to play.  Read when it’s time to read.  Converse when you are conversing.  Give your undivided attention.

Living a full life is cramming three dimensions of time into one moment.  It is riding the wave of the present that’s being blown by the wind of the future on the waters of the past.  That is a full life.  That is how I want to live.