Too Many Days at a Time

I heard a beloved associate say this to someone who was deep in sorrow from the loss of a loved one: “Don’t try to live too many days at a time,” ¹ This counsel could well carry over to other situations and circumstances. “Don’t try to live too many days at a time.” We sometimes become so frustrated in trying to do too many things at once, in trying to decide too many things at once, that the forward motion stops, like a log jam _ or like a panic when too many people try to get out of the same doorway at once.

People in the first shock of sorrow may not have sufficient perspective for making far-reaching decisions. People weighed down and worried become frustrated in trying to do or to decide too many things at once. There are times when we lack calm judgment, and need to turn to others. And there are times when we have to trust a Source beyond human help, as we plead for guidance, and for comfort and assurance beyond ourselves.

You who have pressing and complex problems, accidents, illness, sorrows, loss of loved ones; you who are worried and depressed with pressures _ trying to keep your family and affairs, your interests and obligations from puling apart _ pause, pray, trust _ take time to think things through; sort out what is most essential and insistent; and don’t try to carry the whole weight all at once, or decide all future decisions in one agonizing hour. Time does much _ it heals _ it softens sorrow. Life goes on, and somehow becomes bearable, useful, even when loved ones have left us. People do adjust _ millions have, millions will. And one of the worst ways of solving problems is to act in panic or pressure. We don’t know what we can do or what we can endure until we have to. But we can do much more than we sometimes think we can _ and peace, comfort, and reconciliation can come.

And so again, the good advice from my friend: “Don’t try to live too many days at a time.”