I had a full day planned.  I mean, really well planned. A thing of beauty.

As part of a challenge I issued to myself in the hopes of developing actual self-discipline (a work in progress for my ADHDH brain!), I “Review today, plan tomorrow”.  The idea is to not go into tomorrow with a vague idea of what to do but to bend it to my will (can you feel it!).  

But then someone screws up my plan. When you supervise dozens of people, they often bring drama that occasionally has to be handled, like right now. But other times, that someone is me, and things just don’t go well and it’s sometimes easy to spiral into self-doubt. One thing leads to another and before long, a mini-setback compiles on other responsibilities (which are both good and terrible), which leads to a 1-2 punch in the gut and across the face.  

And I get 2 of my 14 things done.  And not the 2 most important.  

This is the tyranny of the urgent. My plan gets taken hostage.

Mike Tyson is often attributed to have said:

“Everyone has a plan until the get punched in the mouth.”  

Solid words that ring true for me more days than I’d care to admit.  And moving from the punchee to the puncher is a real battle. More accurately: a series of battles in a day that is, in effect, a prolonged war for oneself.  

Today was such a day.  

And yet the blessing of the free will that I’ve been given, combined with the unconditional grace I walk in, means that tomorrow does not equal today.  

True for schedules and our life itself.  

The battle losses of yesterday doesn’t mean the tide won’t turn, the war can still be won, and to mix metaphors, the game can be won in the second half—or even the 4th quarter.  

Yesterday does not own me.  

It may try and convince me otherwise, but yesterday is a liar and a blowhard.  I try not to spend too much time there anymore.  Tomorrow is too exciting. God has promised too much good for this day and every day with Him, despite tough days.

Thank you, Lord, for this day and the lessons and opportunities you give me.  Help me to apply your Word of wisdom to my heart and my life so that whether the day was a win or a loss, it can be counted as joy for the sheer experiences gained in the midst of your grace and mercy.

Amen