I dropped my boy off at the church for worship team practice last Saturday.

“Next Sunday you’ll be at church in Texas,” I said. Mournful mom face.

“Now Mom,” he said, leaning in close to me and turning on the charm, “that’s a long time from now. We’re enjoying today.” When God made Caleb, he poured in optimism all the way to the brim.

January is a clashing blend of hyper-enthusiasm over a fresh start and winter doldrums. Matt signals this as the beginning of “the long drought of holidays,” and for people in Kalispell, Montana, it especially means long weeks of cloudy days and vitamin D deficiency. One of the ski resorts sells t-shirts, to those of us in the bottomlands, that say, “Got fog?”

DOLDRUMS:

A dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.

An inability to enjoy the day you’re in.

Some of our low feeling is a natural fatigue after busy holidays, plus a sluggishness we get from short winter days and being cooped up inside. (Although, I have to confess that being cooped up is my favorite, but I’m talking about how the rest of you might feel.) Up here in Montana, the sun goes down at 5:00 in the winter and doesn’t wake up again until almost 8:00 in the morning. It’s easy to feel blue when it’s dark for so long.

But there is something I’ve been considering for a long time now. I think we make idols of certain kinds of days. We have a tendency to worship days that are restful and fun. We worship days that contain something in them to look forward to. But in looking forward, we elevate the “perfect day” over the one we’re in.

So I am laboring to function in this mindset: Today has meaning.

What if I face this day with as much energy and enthusiasm as I express when I look forward to Christmas morning or lazy Sundays or a day when my kids are coming home? What happens if I BELIEVE this day has its own value?

Ten Reasons Why Today Is Special

Today God will make my heart a little newer than it was yesterday. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Today I will make mistakes but will find brand new compassion waiting for me.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Today God has lined up some good work for me to do.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Today I can shine like a star in the universe.  (Philippians 2:15)

Today will undoubtedly be full of things to thank God for.  (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Today I can find ways to please the Lord.  (Ephesians 5:10)

Today Jesus will be with me in everything I do.  (Matthew 28:20)

Today I can ask God for anything I need.  (Matthew 7:7)

Today God’s love for me will not fail.  (Psalm 33:22)

Today I will receive strength from the one true God.  (Psalm 28:7)

I don’t want to wait.

I don’t want to wait for some “special” day, in order to have a meaningful life. I want to thrive on this square of the calendar that doesn’t have any fancy activity in it.

What are you living for?