When I was a kid (and yes, even sometimes now that I’m not so much of a kid), I reveled in the idea that tomorrow never came. It is always today. Then I saw “Annie” and the idea was reinforced. “Tomorrow, tomorrow . . . I love you tomorrow! You’re always a day away.”

Although we live in a perpetual today, tomorrow really does arrive as surely as time marches forward. Even though writing 2010 on things was finally as natural as writing my name, it’s now 2011.  I’m becoming an expert at turning 0’s into 1’s.  Yesterday definitely was, and today is.

I’ve been out of my office since before Thanksgiving. I head home to Colorado today and back to the office next week. Beyond recovering from surgery, celebrating Christmas, fighting a cold that likes me more than I like it, and celebrating M’s 7th birthday, I haven’t thought much beyond the moment.

Yesterday afternoon that came to a crashing halt. I’ve been checking my office emails and responding to them for weeks. Today I got one reminding me that there’s a training next week and I’m responsible for a major portion of it. Yikes! That was not on my agenda of easing back into a regular routine.

Almost as soon as the panic typhoon swept through my mind it was obliterated by a few different thoughts. The first centered around my word for the year—Persevere. Yes! I just needed to persevere. If I don’t give up, I’ll more than get through it.

The next line of waves crashing through my brain brought confidence. I know the material. I’ve presented it a number of different ways. I just need to buckle down and work through it once more, make copies, and enjoy. I certainly enjoy the topics I teach as well as the people I get to train.

Worry isn’t often a huge problem for me. I’m confident in many of my abilities and in God’s sustaining grace. In spite of these strengths there are moments when I shift my focus, and the problem seems to loom larger than the answer.

God calls me to persevere, to press on toward the goal. I know he is trustworthy. I know he’s bigger than the obstacles that would dissuade me from moving forward. I know the training next week is only a step along the way toward the goal in service to my Lord.  I’m confident God will get me there—today as well as tomorrow.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:13-14 (The Message)

photo courtesy of  Damian Verley

I’m participating in Faith Barista’s Faith Jam.  Every week she’s asking other bloggers to “jam like musicians” on a faith related topic.  Today’s post is my riff on the jam “How God is calling me to be more bold or confident.” If you’re interested in the notes others added to this Faith Jam, go check out her site and follow the links.)