MOMENTS
Definition: a very short period of time. : a particular time : a precise point in time. : the present time.
As I sit here in the wee hours of the morning, sipping on a scrumptious cup of warm silver needle white tea from Teavana and listening to the soft raindrops fall upon our rooftop, I feel very blessed. I love the silence… well really I guess there is not complete silence as my sense of hearing kicks in there is the motor from the refrigerator, the fan from the air conditioner, the dog snoring and clicking of the computer keys as I type this.
How often do you sit very still, just breathing in the fresh air into your lungs fully aware of your actions, clearing your mind of all the random thoughts we seem to have rambling around in our heads and just listen? Are you truly embracing the MOMENT? I know I am very guilty from the MOMENT my eyes pop open my mind starts clicking through all the things I need to get done for the day or replaying all the things I didn’t get done the prior week and wonder WOW where does time really go? I am in a rush rush mode most of the time. Yet today I am sitting here thinking about the best thing in life is not things but MOMENTS!
Each of us must become more conscience and live-in-the-moment! I love the quote, “Sometime you will never know the true value of a MOMENT until it becomes a memory!” This is so true…especially when it comes to interactions with friends and family. I often do not fully enjoy or embrace the time I share in fellowship…taking for granted there will always be those times but that is not necessarily true. The dynamics, the circumstances and the situation will change. Friendships come and go…people marry, have children, maybe divorce and remarry, move away and eventually we all ultimately will die. So as you look around at the next social gathering realize that not everyone in that setting will be together in that MOMENT ever again. Therefore, I encourage each of you to LIVE in the present…Launch Yourself on every wave whether it is good or bad…find eternity in each MOMENT! (I think Thoreau once said that).
For those sports fans out there have you ever experienced the hole in one MOMENT while playing golf, what about the incredible catch with two steps in bounds before being tackled in the end zone or that catch in baseball in the outfield during the final inning. What about three strikes in a row during the last frame of bowling or the three points shot and witnessing the ball going into the basket during the final seconds before the clock runs out. History was just made after 37 years American Pharoah won the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes! Did you feel the adrenaline flowing through your veins…the racing of your heart…the incredible feeling you felt in that MOMENT! Amazing feeling!
As a side note how many of you realized Pharoah’s name was misspelled. Pharaoh is a word for an ancient Egyptian ruler. “Pharoah,” as in the horse’s name, is not that word or a word at all, but it is probably the most common misspelling of that word…what do you think the previous owner who submitted the paperwork to name the horse feels like in the MOMENT when newspaper journalist’s blast it across the nation of their mistake?
A few weeks ago I took part in a short 5 week Bible Study 0n “Listen to My Life” it was a very unique study using visual maps that help us to recognize and respond to God in my story! Please feel free to check it out at www.onelifemaps.com. I am a very visual person I continue to ask God what are my next steps in this second halftime I call life and what is your plan for me as I move forward. I never want to quit learning growing and giving back…I truly want to make a difference in the lives I touch. During the first lesson we had to listen without expression, injection, touching or commenting. We had to keep our eyes and ears on the person speaking…you should try this sometime it was really very hard especially for me as I am one who seems to interrupt or place my hand on a person especially if they appear to be a little emotional or hurting. In other words there was no fixing, advising or rescuing allowed. If you really think about it most people truly want to be heard not necessarily fixed. This allowed me as the listener to have focused attention giving the other person unconditional acceptance and confidentiality. The final principal, I found to be very powerful was to listen to the Silence instead of jumping in with comments or questions. Truly embrace the MOMENT. There is such a strong reflex for most of us to interrupt…however the silence allows the person speaking time to listen to themselves, making decisions about what to say next and truly allows the Holy Spirit space to do whatever he has in mind to accomplish. As the speaker it sometimes felt a bit uncomfortable…rave of emotions poured over me and the insecurity of sounding foolish entered briefly but then I began to speak with more clarity…it truly was an amazing experience both from the speaker perspective as well as the listener. One of the founding verses they use through this study is found in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
We just recently celebrated my great nieces High School graduation in Colorado and our cousin’s daughter in Texas, they both will be embarking on their next chapter and college bound this fall. It is truly an exciting time in their life and as we looked at what they called their shrine (a wall of photos from birth to 18 year of age) we each enjoyed reminiscing about the times we shared and those special MOMENTS.
When you think about it life isn’t comprised of big MOMENTS. Instead it is filled with these sweet nothings that could so easily slip by without notice. It is important to keep your eyes and heart open to these bits of magic that are tucked away in every corner. It is being aware and acknowledging it. Just last week I had to pick something up from the preschool my daughter teaches at, I was walking in the front door and for a brief MOMENT I heard the precious giggling of children playing on the playground, the innocence and carefree MOMENTS a child has…I made mention to the woman sitting at the front desk because I know if you work there you become numb and oblivious to the situation. What about the birds chirping first thing in the morning…if you really listen you do not hear this same sound in the evening. Sitting in your favorite chair savoring a fresh cup of Zen hot tea…scrumptious. A phone call or hand written note you just received from a good friend or family member. Fresh sheets clean home, refrigerator full of groceries, fresh veggies from your garden and the smell of a delicious home cooked meal. Driving down a dusting dirt road with the windows rolled down…All of these are sweet nothing MOMENTS but one that warms your soul…
What about you what would you put on your list? As you are “Takin Time Out” this week why not reflects on those special MOMENTS or sweet nothings. Here is a list to help you get started:
1) What is on your front porch?
2) Who would you have over for tea or coffee?
3) What is your favorite place you have traveled to?
4) Would you paint your bench red or brown?
5) What is your favorite meal?
6) What is your favorite outfit you have worn?
7) Who makes you smile?
8) What is your favorite room in the house?
9) Where would you go if money was no option?
10) What do you like to do when you are Takin Time Out?
That is it for this week, enjoy and savor each and every MOMENT my friends…
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