Pity Jay Leno. The Tonight Show host for 17 years, Mr. Leno is scheduled to lose his late night stage at NBC in 2009. Conan O’Brien was promised the spot several years ago, and now speculation is heating up regarding Mr. Leno’s future. Today’s New York Times tells us that the comedian may move to ABC, sending Nightline into oblivion. He may move to Fox, which has no network late-night programming at present. He may replace David Letterman when his contract is up in 2010. He may replace Larry King on CNN. Or he may do none of the above. He’s been making $27 million a year, so finances probably aren’t his chief motivation.
Transitions come to all of us. Today’s Times is speculating on the future at Microsoft after Bill Gates. Tennis fans wonder how much longer Venus Williams will compete at Wimbledon, though she’s still in the tournament and Maria Sharapova isn’t. Barry Bonds is apparently retired from baseball, though not of his own volition. Someone noted that change is good until it happens. Another wit observed that the only person who really likes change is a wet baby.
You can’t step in the same river twice, Heraclitus observed 25 centuries ago. How different is your world from last summer? Gas prices have doubled; two unlikely presidential candidates are running against each other; the subprime lending crisis has affected the global economy; the Texas Rangers actually have some pitching. The Chinese have a saying: to predict is difficult, especially with regard to the future.
We can be frustrated at the unpredictability of life, or we can welcome the changes and challenges it presents. I’m glad it won’t be this hot in October, and that the presidential campaigns won’t last into Christmas. But it’s a mistake for me to wait for cooler weather or less political rancor and miss the privilege of this Friday.
A counselor once told me that 90% of his clients’ troubles stemmed from guilt over the past or fear of the future. What is worrying you this morning? How many of your burdens have to do with this day? And yet this is the only day there is. “Tomorrow” is just a word, not a reality. All of God there is, is in this moment. He is the Great I Am, not the I Was or the I Will Be.
Have you connected with the personal God of the universe yet today? He is waiting to be as real and present on earth as he is in heaven. He stands at the door and knocks—if we will open, he will enter (Revelation 3:20). Philip Yancey observed that God goes where he’s wanted. Have you made him welcome in your day?
from God Issues by
By Dr. James C. Denison
Pastor for Teaching, Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas
June 27, 2008
