12,000 Have passed

I use a calendar calculator occasionally to calculate contracts and due diligence dates for real estate related transactions. Using a website, I thought I'd have fun and figure how many days I've known my wife. I met Elizabeth on a balmy August 4th Saturday in 1984. Ronald Reagan was President, Van Halen's famous album 1984 was most popular, the cost to go to a movie was around $2.50. Earlier that year,  this thing called a personal computer, the Apple Macintosh was making its debut. Like our first date, the Space Shuttle Discovery launched  its maiden flight on August 30th, 1984.

As the dew on the fescue in the early morning, the world was fresh and innocent with new ideas everyday.  I was 17 years old and had no idea about the journey I getting ready to go on. Like most high school guys, I was looking for a girlfriend. I was looking for good and God was about to offer me great!

So, this 16 year old Texas girl makes her debut into Mocksville and I am probably the first in line

In a photo booth at the Masonic Picnic in August 1984

to welcome her. Now, 12,000 days later, so many things have happened, so many things have changed. Every now and then I’ll go to Amazon Prime music and play David Lee Roth’s version of “Jump” that made Van Halen so popular. The movie theaters see less of us and Apple movie benefits from our movie going desire with the click of a few buttons. I'm writing this on a Mac Air.

Every August the last 27 years, I have revisited that afternoon we met. Day one was amazing. I left her house that day saying I can’t wait for day two. Now, after day 12,000, I’ll go to sleep tonight saying I can’t wait for day 12,001.

The reflection in time and the thoughts backward 12000 days have caused me to think about the scripture that says

‘But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’ 1 Peter 3:8–9

God obviously looks down and says, “Swicey, 12,000 ain’t nothing”. (Forgive me for the assumption that God speaks southern).  While I have cherished my 27 years with Lizzy, I realize that God’s desire for me is to cherish eternity with him. Give that idea some thought. We may believe that time is going by slow and that we have plenty of time in the future to make right by God, but now is certainly a good time. Sometimes we see eternity compressed into moments that give us a glimpse of what it must really be like, but even my gazing upon the Elkhorn Mountains of Montana must only be a spec to what the majesty of

Elkhorn Mountains, Montana

the great I AM’s presence must be.

I started this thought by looking backward, but before it was over, I nudged myself to look forward. I thought to myself, “what will be 12,000 days in the future.” I’ll be 77 (God Willing). Now that was sobering.

I am thankful for the last 12,000 days. It has been amazing; the times I have spent with my wife, the places we’ve gone, the happy times we’ve shared and the challenging times we have pulled each other through. Now, I look forward and am committed to making the next 12,000 days just as special. Tomorrow may look like 1000 years to God, but it is 24 hours to us. I’ll live it with appreciation for the patience he must have, realizing its one more day closer to cherishing God in his economy....eternity.