Why “Some Day” Must be Today.

If procrastination were people I’d be China.

Not in everything, mind you.  Just in some things…like the inconvenient details of life that seem like small things.

A few months ago I got my car serviced and was told I’d soon need a new front tire.  Figuring I had time to spare and the repairman might be trying to milk me out of every dime anyway, I conveniently ignored his warning.  California’s been in a four year drought, after all, so the possibility of driving in inclement weather is next to none.

But not zero.

Last Friday it rained. I was scheduled to speak for a women’s conference and since JP was out of the country, our son drove me to the airport in my car. I gave him a big hug, then reminded him about the tire before warning  him to drive with extra caution.  Which he did.

But all the careful maneuvering in the world can’t trump a slick patch if your treads are bare.

Boarding pass in hand, only three passengers stood ahead of me when I got the call. “Mom, I’ve been in an accident.”

My heart skipped a beat.  I could hardly breathe.

The car had hydroplaned, causing him to spin out of control on the freeway.  He hit the guardrail once before spinning again, hitting the rail a second time, and ended up perpendicular to oncoming traffic.  On a bridge.

Merely typing these words makes me sick.

Fortunately, Taylor was OK.  I must have thanked the Lord 100 times for His protection over my son.  But….

I couldn’t shake the reminder of how dangerous procrastination can be—even if it’s inconvenient or comes with great expense. Sometimes it seems easier to put off the details of life, doesn’t it?  Life gets busy.  The issue doesn’t seem urgent.  We promise we’ll get to it sooner or later.

Suddenly the small thing we neglect becomes a big thing we regret.

Sadly, too many of us procrastinate on more issues than new tires. We live with relational, spiritual, emotional and physical “bare treads” and we don’t even realize how close we are to careening out of control.

We put off making the apology. We make excuses why it’s impractical to get away with our spouse for alone time that’s long overdue. We avoid lingering with a family member, friend or neighbor who would love to simply chat, telling ourselves “next time”.  We promise we’ll read God’s Word and pray when we have more time.  We don’t make the call, pay off the debt or start the exercise program, intending to get around to it…eventually.

We live with chaos in our houses, our families, our bodies and our souls because we put off until tomorrow what should be tended to today.

And then we wonder why the marriage, or the friendship, or the body, or the child, or the job spins out of control.  Or why we do. After all, we reason, others hit the same slick patch and navigate it with ease.

But maybe their treads weren’t bare.  Maybe they took care of problems when they arose.  Maybe they embraced the importance of regular maintenance in all areas of life.

Maybe they didn’t procrastinate, with intentions of “someday”.

What have you been putting off?  Is there anything God’s been prompting you to obey but you’ve conveniently dismissed his instructions?  What needs your attention today?  Whatever it is—physical, emotional, relational, professional or spiritual—take care of it now. Don’t let the treads get bare in any area of your life.

You can’t always predict the rain but you can be prepared when it comes.

“Today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts…” (Psalm 9:7-8)