Have you ever thought or lived in a “good old days” space?  You know naming times in the past “better” days and wishing you were there again? Or maybe you’ve heard people who were the cool and popular kids in high school continue to remind people of those glory days some 10, 20, and 30 years later?  Conversely, do you ever find yourself ruminating on past failures, hurts, losses, or harms?  Isn’t it interesting how we tend to dwell on the past, often as our best times?

My wife and I went to the Macklemore concert a few weeks ago, and it was a spectacular combination of dance party, homecoming (he’s from and lives in our area), and message. In “Good Old Days” (listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yYV9-KoSUM) he begins the song by wistfully reflecting on days gone by.  I can relate to this feeling because ten years ago I was an extremely successful officer in the U.S. Air Force.  To quickly give you some context, think of the Tom Cruise movie “Top Gun”.  Top Gun is our Navy’s flight school where “the best of the best” go to learn and train to be better.  Top Gun is a shorter and smaller version of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.  Ten years ago I was a graduate of and instructor at the Weapons School.

I hesitantly and humbly bring that up because ten years ago in a freak family hiking accident I slipped, slid and plummeted thirty feet head first off a cliff onto a boulder.  While I should have died, I didn’t, but I was medically retired from the Air Force, bringing an abrupt end to my “glory days”.  Additionally, I lost my peripheral vision (about half of my field of vision), so I can’t drive.  It would be easy and natural for me to live in the past or get bitter about the present, but fortunately friends, family, and God have gifted me with the lesson of Macklemore’s song:

“Maybe these are the moments.”  Now will someday seem like the magical past. So, let’s celebrate and enjoy today, because THESE are the good old days!

Part of what helps us revel in our todays is remembering we are glorious.  I don’t say this in a proud or egotistic way, but as a reminder that every single one of us is made in the image of the infinitely good and immeasurably loving God.  Each of us is a glorious reflection of a beautiful Creator.

I LOVE how in “Glorious” (listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OrLroFa0AI) Macklemore reminds us how to use our gifts and goodness.  “So when I leave here on this earth, did I take more than I gave?” he asks before wondering, “Did I look out for the people or did I do it all for fame?”  We were born to feel glorious, and contrary to popular belief that does NOT come by acquiring possessions, but by giving our time and energy to make this wish from Macklemore come true in one another, “When I open my eyes, hope I see you shine.”

I find it easier to care for and give to one another when I remember we all came from the same Source.  Love is the energy of the Divine, and we each have a spark of this desire and ability to give of ourselves for the thriving and flourishing of others within us.  Each of us came from Love, is loved more than we can conceive, has love to give, and will return to Love.  Living and moving from this Truth empowers me to be more and more like Christ.

I’ll leave you with some powerful words from Macklemore’s “Same Love” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0), after inviting us all to celebrate this moment as the best of days, feel glorious in our skins by tangibly caring for others, and remember we’re adored, created by, and enlivened by a Love bigger than the sun:

No law’s gonna change us
We have to change us. Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up