Here dies another day
During which I have had ears, eyes, hands
And the great world around me;
And with tomorrow begins another.
Why am I allowed two?

This is a short poem by G.K. Chesterton. C.S. Lewis considered Chesterton one of his spiritual mentors even looking to him as his “spiritual father.” I just finished reading the chapter on Chesterton in Philip Yancey’s Soul Survivor. Yancey does a wonderful job of showing what a joyful life Chesterton lived. Some considered Chesterton an overweight, absent-minded, professor who gave in to the excesses of the world a bit to much. And he was. But he was also a pilgrim traversing this world asking questions and trying to point others toward our Creator.

I loved this little poem. We have been given so much and yet we act as though living this life is complete drudgery. Last week on ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover the design team traveled to a summer camp for challenged kids. Some of these kids didn’t have hands or legs or arms. Some of the students were so challenged mentally that they will never be able to speak a word. Despite all of these challenges every single child had a smile. Every one of those kids knew that they were loved, even if it was only for a short time while attending that camp. I found myself unable to articulate how much I take everything for granted in my life. Why have I been allowed 25 years to be on this earth? Who am I? What do I have to contribute? This small poem, these 28 words, helped me turn my focus away from what I have to what I have to give. Today is almost over.

With tomorrow begins another.