My father had a plaque in his office that read, “Beware of the busyness of a barren life.” Those words have stayed with me, especially in a world that often prizes productivity over presence. Sometimes our days fly by so fast we hardly taste them. We rush from one thing to the next, feeling like we’re on a hamster wheel, moving quickly but never really getting anywhere.
But Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” He doesn’t just want us to accomplish things. He wants us to enjoy the life we’ve been given. There’s joy in the journey when we slow down long enough to notice the beauty around us: a morning sunrise, the laughter of a friend, the scent of blooming roses. God created us not only for purpose but also for delight.
I used to swim with the Modesto Area Aquatic Club. One of my lane neighbors was a woman named Esther Milsap. She was kind, welcoming, and full of life. When I told her I was planning to swim the Alcatraz to Aquatic Park race, I expected her to offer technical advice about currents or sightlines. But instead, she said something unexpected:
“Jump in the water, swim 200 yards, then stop. Look back at Alcatraz. Look left at the Bay Bridge. Look right at the Golden Gate. Look ahead at San Francisco. Take it all in, it might be the only time you’ll ever see that view from that perspective. Then swim.”
That was the best advice she could have given me, not just for the race, but for life.
Too often, we’re so focused on the finish line that we forget to enjoy the stretch of road we’re on. We miss moments. We rush past wonder. Esther reminded me: Wherever you are, be there.
Two years later, Esther was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away within the year. But her words and her way of living left a mark on me. She lived abundantly, fully present in the moment.
Take time today to breathe, to notice, to enjoy. Let the words of Jesus echo in your heart: “I came that they may have life and have it to the full.” Don’t miss it.