It’s a beautiful fall day in Minnesota today. A soft breeze blows, while the sun shines and the air smells crisp and lush. Summer shorts have been replaced with pants, and sweatshirts are a daily must with the cool morning air. It’s days like these that I sit and reflect on just how thankful and blessed we are. It’s also on days like these, that I think about how “in a moment” things can change drastically.
Living in western Minnesota, as our governor would say out where there’s mostly “rocks and cows”, I’ve learned how the weather can literally can change in a moment. This area is very unique. I’ve never experienced any other place in Minnesota like it. It reminds me a lot of the ocean, actually. As an example, how the sun can be out and at the same time it is raining. Or, how you can see the snow OR rain squalls coming from up the other direction. It’s really quiet fascinating.
If you would, would you take a moment with me to pause and reflect? You don’t have to pause for too long, but long enough to stop and take a few moments to see how your sitting, how your breathing is, what you’re sipping on, and if your interested in what your reading. The latter I hope holds your interest 😉
Now, that you’ve taken a few moments to reflect I ask you to step back into your focus of reading with me. In a moment your world has just changed as did mine. In a moment you went from sipping your tea or coffee to sipping it absent mindedly while reading this. In a moment, your posture went from slouched, to improved, and now back to that comfortable slouched position. In a moment a lot of things changed, didn’t they?
In life we continually have “in a moment” happenings that change our life, and can change those of other’s lives too. Sometimes, they are big happenings that impact a lot of people, and other times they are minuscule happenings which only affect us. The point in my saying this is NOT to demise or make a happening feel unimportant or lesser than, but to depict just how influential these moments are to us. Let me explain…
… In a moment her daddy bent down and scooped his baby girl into his arms as she giggled, squirmed, and then she hugged him.
… In a moment her friend looked deep into her eyes from across the table and knew her friend needed a safe space to talk openly.
… In a moment her car went sliding off the highway into the ditch and came to a halting stop, hitting a tree. Her and the lives of her family were forever changed.
… In a moment they were engaged, and now they are married.
… In a moment the bobber of her fishing pole was sitting unmoved, and in another moment it was down, moving in the opposite direction. (For the record, I’d like to know what she caught!)
… In a moment she went from unknowing, to knowing she was bringing a little human life into this world.
I think you get the point, that in a moment a LOT can change. In a moment our lives and those around us can be forever changed. And in a moment, what has happened can make an impact in who we are, who we will be, the decisions we make (or don’t make), and impact our future.
It’s in all of these moments that I sit here and think about how a moment plays such a role in who we are as individuals, both right now… and in the future of who we will become. It’s in the moment that often times we have to make a decision, but sometimes we are allowed time to ponder, think, and pray before making a decision.
In a moment we are forever changed. I’d like to share the lyrics to a song by Mark Harris that always speak a boatload of truth to me. They are really powerful and always leave me feeling full of hope, love, renewed spirit, and refreshed. Here it is, Mark Harris’s song called ‘Find Your Wings’
It’s only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I’ll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I’ll want to know
You’re walking in the truth. And if I never told you, I want you to know
That as I watch you grow… I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I’m here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings.
May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way. May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories… I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I’m here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings.
It’s not living if you don’t reach for the sky
I’ll have tears as you take off
But I’ll cheer as you fly… I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I’m here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings
Pretty good lyrics, eh? In a moment everything changes. In a moment we were… and now we are. Every moment of every day I hope and pray that we don’t take all of these beautiful moments that we are so gifted with for granted. The moments that are trying and the moments that are terrific. They both impact us in influential ways. Without one we wouldn’t be who we are today. The person sitting across the table wouldn’t be who they are today. The person you married wouldn’t be who they are today. The person you work with everyday wouldn’t be who they are today.
Our lives are a series of “in a moments” that make us and shape us to the beautiful and unique people we are. As we wrap up our time together I want to just say, that all of the moments that we are gifted with each and everyday are important. One moment is no less than the next. In addition, just because all of these moments play a role in who we are as individuals doesn’t mean that a single moment has to define us. It’s usually those “bad” moments that happen, that we somehow determine in our mind that that single moment has defined how our day will go, how our future will play out, or, that the moment will stay with a person for the rest of their life.
We aren’t meant to let a single moment define us or our future. We are constantly changing human beings. We aren’t the same person we were when we started reading this blog. We aren’t the same person as when we stopped to pause and reflect for a bit. And we aren’t the same person as we continued reading as we are continually learning, thinking, absorbing, digesting, and comprehending things. It just doesn’t stop because we are humans that are constantly changing in every moment.
In a moment we will be parting ways, but before we do I want to stop and say, “You’re really amazing! You’re really rad! And you’re really a treasure!” You are a treasure that this world would be unfulfilled without you. Your life, all your “in a moments” wouldn’t be the same without you here. You have a unique place in this world that only you can fill, and I am SO thankful that you are here filling them.
As we part ways I hope that you allow yourself moments throughout your day to pause and reflect of special moments that happen throughout your day. This may just change your life for the better, and like Mark Harris said, “and help you find your wings.”
Your Life, Your Choice 