The dramatic moments of life often leave us in awe. As a scuba/rescue diver, I have many memories from under the sea: from encounters with Great White sharks in the Indian Ocean, to playing with wild dolphins in the Red Sea, to lying on the ocean floor looking up through 33 meters of crystal clear water at a full moon and majestic starry night sky. Such moments are when time stops and when dreams become memories.
As a novice in the scuba world, a friend gave me good advice that goes far beyond the BCD (buoyancy control device) and regulator. He shared, "If you want to make the most of this sport, you have to learn to appreciate the little things"; the brilliant multicolored coral woven together in exotic patterns intertwined with extravagant plant life, a small clownfish hovering in a crevice seeking refuge from lurking predators; a lionfish boldly displaying his coat of featherlike spines warning any intruder to beware.
Ah, the little things.
Is life any different? Rather than appreciating, absorbing, and learning from the less-noticed components of life, we race through time, rarely stopping to relish the beauty God has placed around us: the blessing of a functioning body, the fragrance and intricacies of a flower, the laugh of a friend, the embrace of a loved one, the opportunity to forgive, or the unity in a family. Annie Dilliard has well said, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
Rather than living in the reality of life's blessings, we dwell on the absence of life's abundances. The author of Ephesians commands us, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (5:15-16) Literally, this verse is saying, "Buy up the time, or rescue it from loss." Every moment is a gift from God; an opportunity to invest into the eternal. Unfortunately, we miss out on so much of life because we fail to see His hand of love orchestrating life's minute details. In a recent note, a friend reminded me that there are so many things "we take for granted while moving on the highway of life, whizzing past things that truly matter."
The prophet Moses reminded us, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:10,12) We exist; we die. The question is, "Do we live?" True "living" occurs when we seek the heart of wisdom referred to by Moses; when we learn to live out the image of God in which man was first created—fulfilled in a relationship with God through Jesus (who showed us in human flesh what God is like). Proverbs describes this "wisdom" as a "hidden treasure." (2:4) Not lying on the surface to be disregarded by the passerby, but a buried treasure to be discovered by the exploring seeker. God wants to use the precious moments of our lives to reveal His love to us in unique and innovative ways. Are we looking?
Whether it’s the beauty of the underwater world, the love of a father for his son, or the intrigue of a mathematical equation, do we see the signature of God in the mundane? God's Word reminds us, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14) We have today. As eternal beings, God has given us the gift of time so we can express our love to Him and recognize the love He has demonstrated to us in a plethora of ways.
Are we willing to slow down and allow God's love to penetrate the busy pace of our lives? Are we taking the time to reciprocate the love of our heavenly Father in a world which desperately needs to see love in action? Joy Williams summed it up perfectly in her song Every Moment: "Running through yesterday into tomorrow, don't let it just slip away. Forget about tying the hands of time, give every minute to the One who gave us today."
Live for the purpose you were created: to glorify and honor God in the mundane and the spectacular. Learn to recognize meaning where others see pointlessness. To see the eternal when others see only time. To see EVERY person (whether friend or perceived enemy) as an opportunity to show and reciprocate God's love. Are we "making the most" of the time God has graciously given us on planet earth? Do we relish the beauty of the little things?
Sharks may grip our attention, but don't miss the the clownfish!
Ah, the little things.
Is life any different? Rather than appreciating, absorbing, and learning from the less-noticed components of life, we race through time, rarely stopping to relish the beauty God has placed around us: the blessing of a functioning body, the fragrance and intricacies of a flower, the laugh of a friend, the embrace of a loved one, the opportunity to forgive, or the unity in a family. Annie Dilliard has well said, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
Rather than living in the reality of life's blessings, we dwell on the absence of life's abundances. The author of Ephesians commands us, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (5:15-16) Literally, this verse is saying, "Buy up the time, or rescue it from loss." Every moment is a gift from God; an opportunity to invest into the eternal. Unfortunately, we miss out on so much of life because we fail to see His hand of love orchestrating life's minute details. In a recent note, a friend reminded me that there are so many things "we take for granted while moving on the highway of life, whizzing past things that truly matter."
The prophet Moses reminded us, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:10,12) We exist; we die. The question is, "Do we live?" True "living" occurs when we seek the heart of wisdom referred to by Moses; when we learn to live out the image of God in which man was first created—fulfilled in a relationship with God through Jesus (who showed us in human flesh what God is like). Proverbs describes this "wisdom" as a "hidden treasure." (2:4) Not lying on the surface to be disregarded by the passerby, but a buried treasure to be discovered by the exploring seeker. God wants to use the precious moments of our lives to reveal His love to us in unique and innovative ways. Are we looking?
Whether it’s the beauty of the underwater world, the love of a father for his son, or the intrigue of a mathematical equation, do we see the signature of God in the mundane? God's Word reminds us, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14) We have today. As eternal beings, God has given us the gift of time so we can express our love to Him and recognize the love He has demonstrated to us in a plethora of ways.
Are we willing to slow down and allow God's love to penetrate the busy pace of our lives? Are we taking the time to reciprocate the love of our heavenly Father in a world which desperately needs to see love in action? Joy Williams summed it up perfectly in her song Every Moment: "Running through yesterday into tomorrow, don't let it just slip away. Forget about tying the hands of time, give every minute to the One who gave us today."
Live for the purpose you were created: to glorify and honor God in the mundane and the spectacular. Learn to recognize meaning where others see pointlessness. To see the eternal when others see only time. To see EVERY person (whether friend or perceived enemy) as an opportunity to show and reciprocate God's love. Are we "making the most" of the time God has graciously given us on planet earth? Do we relish the beauty of the little things?
Sharks may grip our attention, but don't miss the the clownfish!
(blog entry inspired by and dedicated to my friend Batawi)
thanks for the encouragement...it echoes what the Lord has been impressing upon my heart over the past year or so -- we're only guaranteed today, so make the most of it for Him!
ReplyDeleteI took a lap around my living room after reading this...your right...God is worthy is our microscope.
ReplyDeleteThe Annie Dillard quote is one of my all-time favorites; in fact, I've had it listed on Facebook for months now. It's so simple, yet so profound.
ReplyDelete