You can never go back...

A friend recently wrote about the impending birth of his first child. "I am beginning to realize that it (my life) will never be the same again."

It got me to thinking about the concept of liminality. "Liminality (from the Latin word līmen, meaning "a threshold")-a period during which one is "betwixt and between", neither one status nor the other; a period during which one's new social status is confirmed. The liminal state is characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy. One's sense of identity dissolves to some extent, bringing about disorientation. Liminality is a period of transition, during which your normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed, opening the way to something new (from Wikipedia)."
Our oldest is now nine. Heidi and I were reflecting the other night that our time with him in our home is half-way up. We feel good about where we are, but can't believe we are already here. There are so many more things I we want to teach him and instill in him. Actually, there is so much more I want to become for his sake. I want him to look at me and see what it means to be a follower of Christ. Heidi and I have no regrets. We made this commitment when we started having kids: Live in such a way that when you get to the next chapter, you will not regret the story you have written.

The same is true for churches. Is faithfulness to the mission of God always a chapter away? It is rare to regret doing something you know is right. O, but how often do we regret not doing it because we were too busy with other things? At some level we are always in a state of liminality. Transitioning from one stage of life to another. This is very hopeful because it says there is still time. The page is turning. Once the page is turned, however, you can never go back. That is what liminality teaches us, you can never go back.

So, live today. Do good today. Kiss your kids on the lips while they still think it’s funny. Heal a fractured friendship. Write an overdue letter. Play, play, play. Instead of waiving to your neighbor, walk over and talk to him. Say no to that job that pays more but has you home less. Accept that invitation to teach in the children’s program. Bring a meal to that new family. Volunteer to watch the baby of the new parents. Invite your friend to church. Live today, live today, live today. For we all know, you can never go back.