Here Today and Gone Tomorrow

A fad is defined as an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived; a craze. See that cute little boy. That’s my son in this photo and guess what era that was when Nehru suits and Beatle’s haircuts were the craze. If you guessed the 60s, you’re right. We fell prey to a fad!

See that hairstyle in the 2nd photo – if you guessed Farrah Fawcett’s feathered long hairstyle of the 70s, you guessed right. I was inspired to write this blog from my friend, Joanne M. Bush's FB post. She said: “The word "fad" comes from an acronym which means 'FOR A DAY'. We can be good at fashioning our thinking from the fads given to us by others, who never meant it as a fad.” I didn’t realize it was an acronym, but it sure seems true – especially as it relates to the phrase “Here today and gone tomorrow!”

I remember some “slang” fads we used that had their season: “Don’t have a cow!” (meaning “Don’t get upset!) and “Put the pedal to the metal” (meaning: get moving). Anyone remember the buzz words: groovy, be cool, crater face, far out, bummer? Those buzz words and sayings were here today and gone tomorrow. Now, there’s a whole new string of fad words: hashtag, photo bomb, selfies, and even this year, new buzz phrases: social distancing, shelter in place, and one we do hope is here today and gone tomorrow: COVID-19. Another fad we hope here today and gone tomorrow is racial prejudice, discrimination, injustice, rioting, insensitivity, hatred.

All that to emphasize something, rather SOMEONE Who certainly banishes the “here today and gone tomorrow” mindset. As a matter of fact – this phrase of great assurance to all of us is “Jesus Christ -- the same yesterday, today and forever”. (Hebrews 18:8). That, my friends, is an unequivocal, eternal truth, hope and belief. And, that my friend, is where we find our hope, when all seems hopeless; where we find peace, when chaos surrounds us; where we find joy, when the world is in fear; where we find love, when hate abounds.

Like in my admitting to following fads and crazes in my examples above, my eyes opened to He Who our greatest example should be – emulating our Lord and Savior and the words He said and the life He lived. Joanna goes on to say in her post: “Scripture is clear. Jesus only did what He saw His Father do and only said what His Father said. Father was the source from which Jesus lived. He came to take us to the Father.”

I agree with her. I desire not to be a fad-seeker or people-pleaser, but a Father-seeker who emulates His unchanging ways -- the ways of loving each other, having faith and hope for a future of love, joy and peace for all mankind. Sound like a day-dream? Not, when ALL things are possible with God. It is God we turn to for refuge and for change -- change in us!

Dumb Blonde Jokes

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Dolly Parton’s 50th Anniversary celebration as a member of the Grand Old Opry. She is beautiful – inside and out – at age 73! What? She’s older than me. How can that be with no wrinkles, a tiny little body and wearing 5” heels? Okay – we know that beauty is helped along with this and that, but she sure makes 70s look mighty good. The show took us back to her childhood, the 4th child of 12, low income family who loved singing. She was undaunted in her certainty that she would one day be a star. She shared about her marriage of 53 years and her husband who has always preferred to be out of the limelight and has seen only one of her shows. They are “lifers” together.

My biggest smile came when she said: “A man asked if I’d mind if he told me a dumb blonde joke. I told him “I don’t mind. I’m not dumb and I’m not blonde!” I completely relate to that response. I’m not dumb and I’m not blonde either, but since I’ve owned the color that my hairdresser only knows for sure for more than forty years now, I’m sticking to it. I smiled even bigger when Dolly talked about her relationship with Jesus.

My daughter turns 50 on December 8th! It’s hard to disguise MY age when she touts hers. She is absolutely thrilled for this jubilee year and she firmly believes her next 50 will be off-the-charts with even more accomplishments for God.

There’s plenty of help to pretend we’re not really getting older.-- from hair color, tummy tucks, dressing younger, thinking thin. When it comes to getting older, our culture offers three options: delay, disguise, or despise. Rather than those options, why don’t we EMBRACE this wonderful life we have and that we’re still here to live it?

St. Paul tells Titus that the older women are “to teach what is good, and so train the young women" (Titus 2:3–5). I love this passage, wanting to be mentored by older women when I was younger, and now embracing being the mentor to those younger. If this kind of discipleship is going to happen, we older women must be willing to acknowledge that we are older and wiser. So, ladies and men (it's for you too) it's time to step it up and be willing to encourage, support, applaud and cheer on those younger than us. We are on assignment. We're still here. We're not done being used by God.

If we belong to Jesus, our “inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Let’s be proud older women and men who teach the younger in our lives to look beyond what is seen and temporary, to what is truly beautiful and eternal. Living a life of devotion to God and drinking at His Springs of Living Water (His Word) is a sure remedy for the "blues" about getting older. It guarantees living and loving life on purpose.