In the Blink of an Eye

Anticipation turned quickly into experience which has quickly turned into memories, and it all happened…in the blink of an eye.

A few weeks ago after a Sunday sermon, a particular church member that is consistently offering encouraging comments concerning a sermon’s subject came to me and stated, “You know, while you were preaching this morning I noticed something I had never noticed before.” At this point there was a long pause leading to what I was sure would be his typical encouraging comment. When the church member completed his statement, the obvious in the visual was confirmed with the verbal, “Man! Your beard has gotten gray!” With no ability to deny reality, I must agree – it definitely has lightened from its former bold blackness of youth. Certainly it didn’t lose its color overnight, but it seems as though it happened in the blink of an eye. And so does much of life. Allow me to reminisce for a bit upon this year’s fishing tournament series that came and went…in the blink of an eye.

So many things about this year’s series was brand new. A new group of students from a new school, a new pair of partners fishing in my boat, a new system that implemented sponsors for increased opportunity and impact, a new set of volunteers that took a lot of weight off my shoulders – and what was so, so new became old news in the blink of an eye. From local lakes of familiarity for even the most inexperienced of the participants to the new-to-some fisherman’s playground of Toledo Bend, my team of competitors which consisted of one experienced pond fisherman and one eager but not experienced at all in the bass world aspiring angler – neither of which had been on a boat deck much at all – shared laughs, private competitions, high fives , and heartbreaks as the season unfolded. In my conversations with other teams, much of the same was shared in fishing vessels all over the lakes. Young folks were introduced to fishing, families were given time to be together, the Word of God was shared with all participants, and creation’s Creator did what He does in those moments. By design, our tournament series seeks to allow adults to do as the elder Paul instructed his young protege Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2Timothy 2:2). Anticipation turned quickly into experience which has quickly turned into memories, and it all happened…in the blink of an eye.

As the beard has become gray, it seems that time goes by more quickly than ever. My own kids are gown and gone and grandkids are already in school. How and when did that happen!? With this in mind, I’ll share with you the devotional thought I shared with the gathered participants at the concluding weigh-in of our season…The story goes that a young man happily announced to his grandpa on the night of his high school graduation, “Grandpa, I did it!” Grandpa responds with an affirmation and a question: “You sure did! Now what?” The graduate responded, “Well, I guess I’m off to college.” Grandpa shoots back, “Fantastic! Then what?” The excited teen said, “I guess I’ll get a job and start a career.” Grandpa exclaims, “I hope you find a good one! Then what?” The young man replied, “Well…I guess I’ll get married and start a family.” Grandpa smilingly responded, “I hope you have a happy one! Then what?” At this point the young man is somewhat confused, but he answers, “I guess at some point I’ll retire and enjoy life.” Grandpa says, “I hope you get to enjoy it a lot! Then what?” Finally the young graduate says, “Well, I guess the only thing left is for me to die!” Grandpa softly says, “Exactly…Then what?” (Hebrews 9:27). You see folks, each one of us is one day going to make our final cast and fire our last shot, and this journey called life will be done. Each one of us must decide before then the answer to life’s final “Then what?”. And whether we realize it or not, that time will be here in the blink of an eye.

When that day comes, our eternal destiny won’t hinge upon the biggest bag we ever weighed in or the heaviest set of horns we ever laid on the ground. The only thing that will matter is what our response was to kindness of a Creator who gave His son to pay the price for our eternal salvation (John 3:16-21). Keep enjoying the Great Outdoors, but make sure you entrust and keep entrusting your life to the Great God who gave us the Great Outdoors. His name is Jesus – trust Him! Then one day when our beards and hair are fully white, we can float down the river or ride through the Bay and talk about all the twists, turns, ventures, and victories we had in this life that was over – in the blink of an eye. I’ll see you later – white hair and all – in the Great Outdoors!