If we out-live time, but don't live out our lives, who wins?

Too often when we think about beating time, we think about living longer than the average life span. But what if beating time, TRULY beating time, is making more than average out of the time we have?

There is an evil side to time, but it's not death. At least not for those of us who believe life never ends. No, the evil side of time is the side that tries to steal from the life you're living.

I went to bed last night fully committed to getting down to the beach for sunrise this morning. Then I woke up, felt the frigid temperatures, and had second thoughts.

Second thoughts. That's often the evil side of time. It tries to talk us out of the things we know to be good and beautiful and right use of our time.

When I walked upon the sand this morning and looked into the still dim light on the other side of the ocean, I was looking at one of the most tranquil oceans I'd ever seen. For a moment it was if time had stolen the waves.

But there they were. Resting.

I thought, time tried to steal this moment from me. If I were to live 150 years but had skipped this moment, who won?

Me or time?

Time is trying to convince us the mystery of life is solved in living forever, all the while so many of us never live the forever we're given.

We miss out on people and places and chances and moments. Moments where we stand on the beach, not another soul around, watching the sun rise over waves that for a moment disappeared.

And you were the only one to catch the magic in that act. Like someone stopped time just for you.

We too often trade right now in for forever. Oh, the things we miss dreaming about forever at the expense of right now.

This Christmas season - don't skip now.

And as we prepare for a new year, maybe make it a resolution.

I will no longer focus on out-living time. My focus will be on living out the time I have.

There is magic to be found in your life. Don't let the evil side of time convince you otherwise.