One of the best questions I used to ask students — at least from my point of view — was "How many of you did something you shouldn't have done, knew you shouldn't have done and wished you hadn't?" Almost always, the class was unanimous with I wish I hadn't. Except for one young lady who said, "I'm sorta sorry, but I'd do it again."

My response, "Really? Why?"

"Because I won't get caught the next time." She got a great round of applause.

Listen, I have my own list of shouldn't haves, not too many got caught and plenty of I wished.

The great thing about my memory is that I don't waste time on the "if only list."

The most important things in my collection are the "if only I hadn't." In the great providence of God, there are many — and I mean many — choices to be made, or better yet, situations or chances. Try this, "unexpected help in a difficult situation, a seemingly random event leading to a positive outcome, or experiencing a period of growth and learning through challenging circumstances." I wish I had written that.

Now this is my list, and I hope you'll make a list of your own when you finish reading. By the way, these all are entered in the "If only I hadn't."

Hang on. I flunked out of Marshall in my first semester, so I joined the U.S. Navy. Honorably discharged, with the GI Bill, I returned to Marshall and did just fine. My best friend asked me to go with him to his girlfriend's house to keep her company while he watched TV or slept on the couch. His girlfriend became my wife of 65 years. What If I hadn't?! We have three beautiful children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

I left what I thought was my career in life for the call to the ministry. The list is forward, backwards and maybe even sideways, but "What if I hadn't?"

Here's where the great big change happens, so hold on a tad.

All that past is over, can't change and wouldn't want it to change, and I am left with the future. I am in complete control with my future!

"John, how can you — you folks who are speaking to me — make such a dumb statement?"

The future is guesswork, luck, iffy and eight billion people who might just be thinking about the same thing. What is it that we all have in common?

The common denominator is now! For me, now is August 17, 2025, at 3:35 p.m. Woops! That now just went flying by and that now is past. I have a new now, right now.

Hold on. A good friend just stopped by to see Charliedog. We got caught up, talked about a lot of stuff, he played with the puppy and he left. That's all passed, and I'm back to now.

Now is wonderful! I don't worry about the past or contemplate the future. My existence is now! This now — which changes quicker than the blink of an eye — is the moment that God has given to us to become the person we were meant to be. I can and will be truthful, honest, dependable, moral, kind, responsible, respectful, forgiving, genuine and Christlike! Not tomorrow, next week or on New Year's Day.

What did our Lord say, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Jesus taught us to live in the NOW.

You finished reading? Well, then, you are in the new now.

Thanks, God!