How can we be certain that Christmas only comes once a year? I’m sure it hasn’t been a whole year already. When I was a little boy Christmas took much longer. Everything we look forward to it seems comes much slower than the things we dread or have little interest in.
I wanted to be 15 to get my “learner's” license. I wanted to be 16 to get my driver’s license. I wanted to be 18 to be old enough to vote. I wanted to be 21 to be considered grown. But when I turned 30 I wanted to be 21 again. Now that I’m 50, I want to be 30. I guess when I turn 70 I’ll want to be 50. So, maybe I should try to enjoy the age I am realizing that someday I will wish to be that age again.
I think the secret to slowing down the ever-whirling clock is the acquisition of things to look forward to. I, like most people, use the computer for so much these days. One thing I like to do is shop on line. It is fun to research and compare prices and when the purchase is made I have to wait several days to get my order. During those days, I have something to look forward to. Having to wait for a purchase also gives you time to change your mind.
Planning vacations, a year or more in advance is also a “time slower.” You can take your time choosing where you will go and what you will do. Next, plan a vacation budget so you can set aside the money a little each month so you won’t have to go in debt to pay for the trip. You will also save money planning ahead on the cost of hotels and airfares booked in advance. Then with the peace of mind that comes with your good planning, you can look forward all year to your family vacation.
Keeping the apple just out of reach of the horse keeps him motivated and moving forward. But if the horse is never allowed to catch up to the apple it will get discouraged and give up. Make sure that the things you are looking forward to are reasonable and attainable.
I have been playing the Saxophone for a long time. But during the last few years, I decided to expand my musical instrumentation portfolio, so to speak, and have been learning to play several new instruments; Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo and Fiddle to be specific. Boy, did I bite off a big chew. The Guitar and Mandolin are sounding pretty good and the Banjo is fair but the Fiddle sounds good only to howling dogs and a near deaf friend of mine. My wife is so tolerant of all the strange noises emanating from our home but I have begun to notice that when I practice the Fiddle we are always running out of stuff, because by the second stroke of the bow I hear her voice above the screech saying, “...need anything, I’m going to the store.”
Learning to play a musical instrument is fun, and it gives you instant gratification and something to look forward to and is a wonderful way to praise the Lord. If you decide to take up the Fiddle however, I hope you have a tolerant spouse. Otherwise, your only musical expression may be “ouch,” “whad-you do that for?”
I hope you are looking forward to a Merry Christmas.
