Listen to the commentary

Dear Marketplace Friend,

In the mellow early years of the Magic Kingdom, there were lots of experiences at Disneyland that were entertaining while thoughtful. Before the advent of epic adventure rides based on movie franchise fantasies, tired parents would sit down in the Carousel of Progress to rest and rotate around a recurring presentation by a robotic family with the hopeful theme song: “There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day. There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow’s just a dream away. Man has a dream and that’s the start; he follows his dream with mind and heart. And when it becomes a reality, it’s a dream come true for you and me…”

Rex Allen – known professionally as the “Arizona Cowboy” – sang that hopeful tune to many of the 800 million people who have come through Disneyland’s gates. Great days ahead, according to Disney: have a beneficient imagination about what could be, and act on it…

Jimmy Buffett – who’s fans were happily tagged as “Parrotheads” – had a far less industrious approach to life. His anthem was song for stupor: “Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville; searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt…” Nobody ever achieved success from embracing Jimmy’s mantra (except, of course, for Buffett himself: when he died last month, his estate was estimated to be $600 million).

What a difference a day makes! Many get stuck in yesterday, accepting a victim identity based on unresolved past pain. Most live-and-die in today, hitting the “replay” button to demonstrate their determination that perpetuity is preferred over progress. Tomorrow is different: it’s a day defined by either fear of loss or hope for gain. Which will it be?

To no small degree, the answer to that binary differential rests on the agenda of today. Unless the anticipation of cause-and-effect influence over outcomes is an empowering belief, it is – for most people – easier to avoid all risk and settle for today’s circumstances as unchangeable, whether acclaimed or abysmal. Lock today down; accept status as destiny. Or…

Here’s the informed exception to that default posture: life is never static, and our posture toward change will either be reactive or proactive. The layers of life operate within the design parameters established by the Creator from the outset, and learning the rhythms of life allows us to lean into the future by learning today and setting the course of anticipation for tomorrow.

God surrounded us with an environment perfectly suited for people to thrive – always! – but we live in a place that is in constant flux. Spring, summer, fall and winter never get out-of-sync; the weather varies within parameters, but day-and-night dictate unchallengeable certainties that we learn to live within and leverage for advantage.

Life mirrors the Creator’s seasons: in all of life there is an intentional cycle in play. Our personal space – body, mind, soul and spirit – have routines and rhythms that either serve to fall back or forge ahead. Core relationships – with a marriage partner, with kids – have predictable periods that either miss opportunity or exploit it. Marketplace life – where well managed careers produce well deserved compensation – is in constant flux, never fixed. And, for the follower of Jesus who is called into action in his Kingdom, there is always opportunity for advancing in the faith journey to realize and maximize our potential to influence people on behalf of the Creator who offers to be their Savior.

“To everything, there is a season…” That was Solomon’s take about 3000 years ago (Ecclesiastes 3), the Byrds added the music (in Turn, Turn, Turn).

Living life to the full means managing the current season while preparing for the next transition. Suitable preparation involves knowing what’s possible tomorrow and taking the deliberate actions today to make the best outcomes likely tomorrow. Is it worth the effort to move forward?

It’s Q4/2023. How are you imagining the potential improvements of 2024 – on all fronts of life – and what are you doing today to make that progress likely?

Join me in the waning days of this year as we imagine what could lie ahead…

Bob Shank