CARPE DIEM: IS IT ALWAYS BAD?

Carpe Diem or seize the day is a great Latin expression. I don't know why some phrases sound better in Latin, Greek, or Aramaic, but they do. Ok, in German, French, Spanish, too, some sound better to be fair.

Our Fall foliage viewing this Autumn was done in San Diego this weekend. It wasn't planned that way. That is, we had been to other places that boast of Fall foliage, but were too early. In a neighborhood surrounding our daughter's house is where we were able to see the beautiful change/ metamorphosis of the leaves. Funny, I never hear the leaves' changing colors referred to as a metamorphosis, but it is. Usually that term is reserved for Spring and coming to fruition.

My mother loved Fall. It was her favorite. But somehow I'm not sure she could enjoy it as much as she should have because she did not like Winter at all. It bothered her. Nearly every time she would notice and comment on God's beauty in her favorite season, it seemed she followed it with, "but Winter's coming soon".

A little carpe diem is good for all of us. I've written about focus. Thousands and thousands, gosh, probably millions of preachers had given sermons about focus and setting our sights on eternity. That's what scripture tells us. We can't live in two worlds, or we'll neglect the spiritual. We're aliens in this world, because it's a fallen world, a world of the flesh, a world tarnished by original sin.

But God may not be concerned about our comfort on this earth--that's what Heaven is for according to Rick Warren, but He is concerned about our happiness here and now. God wants us to enjoy. There's no greater joy than knowing Jesus and trusting Him. That's a spiritual given.

But the Creation was a gift from God for us to enjoy. To see and explore, to enjoy and to feel. To experience the awe of what a sovereign God can do. I'm not referring to the earth, but all Creation from the heavens and stars and oceans and sun and moon and birds, fish, and animals. And people. We're certainly to enjoy people. We are to love them as Christ loved us. (Jn 15:12-13)

So let's allow ourselves the present. Carpe Diem once in awhile. But we can never forget where true joy comes from. Where true happiness lasts. From Alpha to Omega (there's a good Greek phrase) it's still God who provides.