Redeeming the time

I took a break from studying last night and went out for a walk to clear my head. I do some of my best thinking on these quiet walks and I think last night was no exception. As the cares of the day began peeling off, my mind began to wander through the years. I thought of jobs, friends, past experiences, and mistakes. Then came the inevitable, "What would you do different if you could go back to 1984 and have a discussion with yourself?"



First came the obvious answers: Buy shares of Microsoft and WalMart, bet on Chicago to go all the way to the Super Bowl, etc. Once I got past all that, I really got to thinking. If I could go back and see 16-year-old Steve, what would I tell him? The one thing that rang true, that seemed the most important of all the things I could say is, "Take advantage of the time you have to better yourself." I look back at all the time wasted in front of the Atari or watching mindless 80's sitcoms that would have been better spent working, or exercising, or reading a good book.
I've had several discussions with my sons along these same lines. I'm trying to expain the incredible earning potential with simply mowing lawns (I know I sound like an Amway salesman). I mowed one lady's yard for $7 every 2 weeks. What if I had done more? What else did I do those summers but sit in the air conditioning and watch Jeffersons reruns? I have a friend who paid cash for his first car with money earned from mowing lawns. I've learned that you're never going to have more time than right now. Bettering yourself is never a waste of time. Oh the opportunities squandered. Youth really is wasted on the young.

Now, here's something that will get you thinking. What do you think you'll wish you could go back and tell your 30-something self when you're 60? How many 60-year-olds have you heard say, "Thirty nine old? I wish I was thirty-nine again!" I want to live a full, rich life, to be a faithful steward of all the God has given me, and to not have any regrets when it's all said and done. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Best of all, I want to stand in front of the Lord and hear Him say, "'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"