HERE FOR A GOOD TIME, NOT A LONG TIME

Monday, February 7th

When I was a freshman in college, I shared a dormitory room with four other young women. One of our roommates, Linda, was a bit more “carefree” than the rest of us. She smoked nonstop, never made her bed, left her clothes on the floor, enjoyed a good party, and exaggerated her stories. Linda was wild and hilarious, living life on the edge, and she definitely made our college year more exciting. When one of us questioned the wisdom or safety of her actions – or at times, our own 😉 – Linda would often assert, “You’re here for a good time, not a long time!”

Recently these words came back to my mind for reflection. We are here for a good time, not a long time.

No matter the number of our earthly days, I imagine we all feel as if life will never be long enough. Although we rejoice that we are indeed eternal beings, we can agree with Linda that we are here for “not a long time” in this present life.

But what would be our “good time”?

God has created us as unique and diverse individuals, so our answers to this question will also be unique and diverse. For some, a good time may be to live wildly and fearlessly. For others, a good time may be to live peacefully and safely. Still others may find the good time through community, while others through solitude… some by making good differences, others by sacrificing generously… some while hiking in nature, others while cleaning up city streets… some in taking new adventures, others in relishing daily routines.

How would you define a good time as a guidepost for your life? What qualities, dreams, and goals would be included? Are there any non-negotiables or must-haves? Your definition of a good time could be based on the experiences you have, the emotions you feel, the accomplishments you achieve, the places you travel, the sensations of well-being you enjoy, the spiritual insights you discover, the relationships you treasure, or the legacies you leave. At the end of this earthly life, is there anything you would really regret not doing? What would you be most thankful to have experienced or accomplished?

For your good time, what would be your next priority?

Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10); God delights in our joy! As beautifully diverse and unique individuals, there will not be one all-encompassing answer to what comprises a good time, an abundant life, a life of joy. But as we define our own good time in a variety of ways, may we increasingly allow God to help us define it, too. May we live each day so that our good time will glorify God, the Giver of good life itself.

As our own good time becomes more God-serving than self-serving, we will find that this truly abundant way of living is the best good time of all.

What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God. ~ Eleanor Powell

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. ~ Voltaire

Photo by Matheus Frade on Unsplash