One of golf’s most amusing—and revealing—stories involves a Scotsman introducing the game of golf to former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.
Carefully placing the ball on the tee, the Scotsman took a mighty swing. The club struck the turf, spraying dirt all over the president’s beard and the surrounding area—while the ball sat calmly on the tee. He swung again. And again, he missed.
After six patient attempts, President Grant quietly remarked, “There seems to be a fair amount of exercise in the game…but I fail to see the purpose of the ball.”
That observation reaches far beyond the game of golf. It describes many lives today. There is plenty of activity, plenty of motion—but very little progress.
We are busy, exhausted, and constantly “doing,” yet often unable to answer a simple question: Where is all this leading? Are we just swinging at the ball, or do we actually have a plan for how to live?
The Problem with a Busy Life
Many people live by a phrase we all recognize: Carpe Diem.
It is commonly translated as “seize the day,” but its original meaning comes from the Roman poet Horace, who wrote: Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero—“Pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the next one.”
Over time, this idea has shifted. Today, carpe diem is often understood as living for the moment, chasing experiences, squeezing as much pleasure as possible out of today because tomorrow is uncertain. You only live once—so get it now.
But this approach raises an important question: Are we getting anywhere?
Many people are incredibly active, yet spiritually stagnant—especially in the most important aspect of life: knowing, loving, and serving God.
Fr. Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009), former editor of “First Things,” once observed, “It seems like most of us spend our lives discovering we are merely ‘creatures’ and not the Creator. We want to create our own successful world…without understanding that it is the Creator—not the created—who is in control.”
Still, with carpe diem echoing in our minds, we keep swinging—often making a mess of ourselves and others in the process.
Is this really the Christian way to live?
The Dangers of “Carpe Diem” as Pleasure-Chasing
When carpe diem becomes a philosophy of pursuing pleasure above all else, it leads to serious problems.
1. Pleasure Is Short-Sighted
In Genesis 25, Esau comes in from the field exhausted and hungry. Jacob is cooking stew. In a moment of desperation, Esau trades his birthright—an inheritance of lasting value—for a single meal.
He seized the moment. And he lost everything.
Short-term pleasure blinded Esau to long-term consequences. Scripture later tells us that when he wanted the blessing back, it was gone forever.
How many decisions have we made simply because they felt good in the moment—only to pay for them later? Some pleasures cost things that cannot be recovered.
2. Pleasure Is Misguided
Genesis 3 tells us that Eve saw the fruit was pleasing to the eye and desirable for gaining wisdom. It looked good. It promised more. But it delivered sin.
Pleasure often makes promises it cannot keep. What seems satisfying in the moment may ultimately leave us emptier, broken, and farther from God.
3. Pleasure Is Manipulative
The serpent told Eve, “You will not surely die.” He planted the idea that God was holding something back.
This manipulation still works today. We call it FOMO—the fear of missing out. It convinces us that obedience is restrictive and that faith steals our joy.
But God was not withholding good from Adam and Eve, and He is not withholding good from us. He knows true joy cannot be found in chasing fleeting pleasure.
Redeeming “Carpe Diem:” A Better Way
Carpe diem does not have to be rejected entirely. When viewed through the lens of faith, it can become a powerful motivator.
1. Motivation for Salvation
Scripture reminds us, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
If there is ever a moment worth seizing, it is the opportunity to share God’s mercy. Life is fragile. Eternity is real. Every conversation matters.
Sharing the gospel does not mean forcing Scripture into every interaction. It means recognizing that Christ in us has something to offer—hope, truth, and life.
We often delay out of fear or convenience, waiting for the “right moment.” But how many opportunities quietly slip away?
Urgency is not pressure—it is love in motion.
2. Motivation for Ministry
Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming” (Jn. 9:4).
There will come a day when we can no longer give, serve, or work as we once did. While we can, we should. Serve when you can serve. Give when you can give. Love through action while the opportunity exists.
This is carpe diem with eternal purpose.
3. Motivation for Love
Above all, Scripture calls us to love deeply (1 Pet. 4:8).
Love is one of the greatest “seize the moment” opportunities we are given. Say it. Show it. Demonstrate it today—not later.
Spend time. Listen. Write. Call. Care about what matters to others. Love is not meant to be delayed.
Living with Purpose
God desires abundant life for us—but abundance is not found in constant motion or packed schedules. It is not just swinging at the ball.
True life flows from recognizing what God has given us and sharing it freely with others—His mercy, grace, peace, and love.
At the center of it all stands the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice restores our relationship with God and offers a peace nothing else can provide.
So let us seize the day—not for selfish pleasure, but for eternal purpose. Let us live—and share—our lives with Christ at the center.
Photo by Matt Aylward on Unsplash
