Only today

At fourteen I caught a vision,

I was convinced it was from You.

Through it I filtered all decisions,

striving always to stay true.

Those plans, that ambitious scheme,

mapped out my life from here to death.

I started chasing this grand dream–

it demanded every breath.

At sixteen I caved to doubt–

reassessing each option,

certain to find a new way out,

something else to engage in.

But I felt You led me back

so I took that leap of faith.

I continued down that track.

It seemed a dismal twist of fate.

Downward I spiraled to despair

begging You for fitting answers.

Each day, more apart my soul did tear

like in some vicious form of cancer.

Finally I cried, “No more!”

Life ground to a screeching halt

as I ditched these plans abhorred,

not knowing if I was at fault.

Then there fell a deathlike silence,

which grew scarier each day.

I feared a charge of noncompliance

but still saw no other way.

I have learned to love that stillness,

freed from the constant grip of plan.

Embrace each moment and don’t stress,

to rediscover who I am.

I know now life plans are futile–

simply options in your head–

but they can become quite brutal.

Give me just this day instead.

So long I begged You to tell me

what Your will for my life was.

Now I just ask You guide this minute.

Help me commit to You this day.

I was recently reminded that we only have today. And yet we foolishly try to plan out the next several years. This just sets us up for disappointment later because we will never be able to envision the future with total accuracy. Just today. Treasure today. When you speak to someone, forget the rest of the world for that moment. You only know you will see them today. 
What will we do with today?