I recently heard a pastor use the phrase, "Don't anticipate, just participate." He uses this quote with his youth on a mission trip where the students don't know where they will be going next. The idea is to encourage the students to participate fully in the work they are doing and their mission, rather than anticipate where they will be going next. In such a goal-driven and fast-paced world, it is so easy to fall victim to the idea that we can constantly look towards the future and still be completely present in our life now. We think that if we can anticipate what will come next we can take it on and conquer it. But this is not the case.
We live our lives in a state of anticipation and one day we will look back and realize that we never fully participated in our own lives. We will have only gone through the motions, physically participating in our lives but never mentally, spiritually, or emotionally participated in our lives, or the lives of those around us. It isn't completely our fault that from birth to death we are anticipating one thing or another.
As children, we are anticipating Christmas from June until December. Our parents tell us that if we are good, Santa Claus will bring us the toy that we have been asking for. While this kind of anticipation causes children to behave better, it also inspires the mindset that we can rush away now for something better to come. Instead, let us give our children enough free time to be present in time with their friends and family.
As teenagers, we anticipate getting our driver's license. We anticipate graduating from high school and moving on to the "real world." The anticipation of graduating is something that can cause students to forget to enjoy the time that they have now. The time in their life where responsibilities are minimal and homework is easy. We anticipate college until we reach college and don't participate in all that college has to offer in anticipation of the adult world. In college, it is especially easy to miss out on participating because we are constantly trying to anticipate the next quiz, test or project. Instead, let us encourage students to give themselves a break and participate in the simple world around them.
When we finally reach the adult world, we anticipate the good and the bad. We have lost most of our childhood innocence and know what is out in the world. We anticipate marriage and then children, promotions and then retirement, life and then death. Instead, let us participate fully in the life that we want for ourselves. The life of happiness and good books and good memories because the best memories don't include missing out on life because you were anticipating a million different outcomes.
No amount of anticipation can prepare us for what God has in store for us. When it comes down to it, no matter how scary it may be, no amount of anticipation can prepare for what is going to happen in a minute or an hour, let alone tomorrow. The best that we can do is participate in today and pray for tomorrow. Participate fully in the world around you. Spend time with your family, stay up late with your friends, eat ice cream for dinner, go back to college, start a family, love a life full of people who you love and who love you back. Live your life in the present, only anticipating the feast set for us in heaven.
