“This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim.” – 1 John 1:5-7
First, my sincere apologies to actual Latin scholars. Everything I know about the words I’m using comes from a mixture of popular culture and “Google Translate.”
But first I’ll share the context. Yesterday evening, chatting with a Tampa friend via text, thinking about both the adventures Rebekah and I are enjoying and the adventure he and his family are currently stepping into, I threw out the following hybrid phrase as my closing salutation – “Carpe Everything!”
Carpe Diem, as we all know, is the Latin aphorism translated “Seize the Day.” The word for everything is – apparently – omnia. But – being a Latin know-nothing, I didn’t have that word available. So I hybridized what I kind of know and came up with Carpe Everything!
Looking back, I kind of like it.
LIVE THE TRUTH! You may not like my rough, free-and-easy, abuse of conversational Latin, but I like the sentiment it represents. It’s another phrasing of the idea that shouts loud and clear from the opening of John’s first epistle. “Live what you claim!” Or, in a another translation, “practice the truth,” or “live out the truth.”
The truth of the Good News that Jesus delivered – in person – to this world, is that human beings have been invited to step out of the darkness and to live in the light. Everything that drags us down, that works to sever relationships, that promotes disharmony, disunity, and dysfunction, is defeated by Jesus; light always eradicates darkness, applied goodness is the only way to stop the advance of evil, love never fails.
“The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us,” John writes. “We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” 1 John 1:2-4
CARPE EVERYTHING! Carpe Everything/omnia – seize… embrace…enjoy everything – then, is a comment on the moment by moment application of this ground-breaking, torpor-shattering realization!
Seize everything; lay hold of life; embrace the fact of the Good News. “Live what you claim!” Joyfully engage all these new adventures in that same spirit of belief and enthusiasm.
Life is a great adventure. Every day is a new chapter.
“This is why I was born,” Jesus said, “and for this I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” – John 18:37
And I honestly believe the voice of Jesus is saying this: “CARPE EVERYTHING!”
– DEREK
I love that phrase, brother. I’m also drawn to the words “applied goodness.” That’s so much more fun and beautiful than the rampant tenancy toward theoretical Christianity.
Thanks, Joshua. Jesus never said, “Well thought,” or “well believed…” He said, “Well DONE…”
Peace – DEREK
I really love how you plugged that phrase into the gospel, it is really true! It goes along with the whole “Living on purpose” mindset. Begin everyday as if it were on purpose!
I appreciate it. Live like we mean it – because God certainly meant something amazing when we were created!
The phrase is wonderful and it is made even more exciting when we realize that we have the power available to do just that. When we Carpe Everything, and we are living with His will and purpose in mind, His power is available to us so that we can accomplish even that which seems impossible. He did not leave us alone with tasks too big for us to handle. He is with us and His Spirit will guide and empower us. Great post, Derek. Thanks for expressing this so well.
Very true. We must seize everything, if we believe and claim that the Lord will provide God will make wonders in our life. Great post
Reblogged this on rccgimpactsetters.