Forever, forever, ever...forever, ever?

Quick!

Name as many songs as you can with “forever” in the title.

Any genre – if you name more than eight songs, you get bonus points.

I’ll wait.

Here’s my list:

- Always and Forever – Heatwave

- Always and Forever – Luther Vandross

- Forever – Kari Jobe

- Forever Young – Rod Stewart

- Forever my Lady – Jodeci

- Together Forever – Rick Astley (yep, went there)

- Forever your Girl – Paula Abdul

- Make It Last Forever – Keith Sweat

There are so many songs with "forever" in their titles. I only came up with a few. Why do people sing about forever? Probably because it tends to be identified as the ideal; longevity is the goal. We want love for a lifetime and celebrate those couples that have reached their silver and golden anniversaries. We love when the Today Show recognizes those blessed seniors celebrating 100 years (or more) of life. We want our cars, houses, clothing and other purchases to last long after we’ve finished paying for them (or at least until they no longer serve our purposes). More is better. Longest is best.

And maybe all of that is true.

But what about what Outkast said in Ms. Jackson….?

I hope we feel like this forever Forever, forever, ever, forever, ever? Forever never seems that long until you're grown And notice that the day by day ruler can't be too wrong…

Forever can be valuable and #goals but what about the wonderful blessings and experiences that might be short-lived or even fleeting?

Like fresh flowers. I adore freshly cut flowers. Nothing fancy, I’ve found breathtaking roses at the entrance of my local Safeway and exquisite alstroemeria in buckets at Trader Joe’s. But isn't that just throwing away good money, because they don’t last?

Like really (really) good coffee (that I didn't have to make). The ritual and taste of a well-prepared cup of coffee (dark roast, with a splash of coconut milk creamer, and lightly sweetened with Stevia - thank you!) can be transcendent and provide an opportunity to slow down the pace of a crazy day. But they want how much of my hard-earned money for a beverage that I’ll drink in an hour or less?

Like first-class seats on a long-ish flight. I hate to fly. Yes, I will grab your arm during turbulence whether I know you or not. However, traveling in first class is a totally different experience than flying in coach - the snacks, the beverages, the attention…I humbly submit that there’s even less turbulence in first-class (not scientifically valid, but whatever). But spending twice or three times as much to sit in a different section of a plane for a few hours? Should I?

Or even how I choose to wear my hair. My favorite hairstyle is a two-strand twist-out. Big and fluffy. You literally can't tell me nothing with a twist-out that's a couple days old - peak volume and definition. But it doesn't last that long and the daily upkeep to maintain the style and keep my hair healthy take time. Is it worth it?

I am committed to stewarding my time and money well. However, I also believe I’m called to be a good steward of the joy in my life. And many of the opportunities for joy in life come from the little, seemingly insignificant moments and occasional indulgences. Too often, I’ve chosen otherwise.

I’m starting to understand that when I choose to only value and pursue those things and experiences that promise longevity in exchange for my time or money, I’m going to miss out out on those small but important opportunities to sow and cultivate joy daily, intentionally. Cumulatively this means I’ll miss out on living a well-lived life (long, short, or something in between), infused with joy.

That’s definitely not what I’m aiming for. So if you see me with a bouquet of roses in my grocery cart, 12 oz. of overpriced coffee in a tumbler, my hair in a bomb twist-out (are we saying bomb anymore? probably not) or enjoying some other small treat, you’ll know exactly what I’m up to – choosing, with intention, the small, short-lived, meaningful (to me) things and experiences that elicit joy and add up to the well-lived life I hope to have.

How are you sowing and cultivating your joy daily? What are your daily opportunities for joy? Oh, and how many points did you get?