Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Appreciation

I've been thinking about how to enjoy more of life...Someone whose blog I read had asked the question of how to seize and enjoy a moment in time when all kinds of other distractions are going on around you. You're having breakfast with your mom but you just graduated school and don't know where you will be working or living and the big situation totally eclipses the moment of breakfast with your mom. Or the day is lovely but there are so many bills to think of that you don't notice. The question came up again last night at the weekly sisters meeting of our house church...how to hear the voice of the Lord in the bustle of your life...or see a saint in need when your own needs are overwhelming....is life just one big rush to the finish?

It has been a habit of mine, I don't know when it really began but it seems to work for me....I stop...just for a minute sometimes and take notice. And somehow the moment seems to be saved in my mind, heart, spirit...like a photograph. I've often wondered what makes photography such a striking and powerful element as compared to film or video. My husband said recently to me that photography captures a moment and forces you to look at it rather than rushing onward visually and mentally. I think that is what I try to do with the moments I want to keep....
Our lives are so forward moving, so fast.... our senses are so bombarded by life and the world and all we see and hear.....
if I can only stop time for one moment and really look at something...the blue sky, 15 minutes chasing my granddaughter around on all fours, a breezy car ride with my husband - windows down-radio up, a quick turn to the Lord in the middle of a busy day...life has more meaning.
Here is what I do...
I say to myself...I want to enjoy this thing, person, event, moment in time....I look at it with knowledge that I am doing so.
Remarkably they become as a photograph in my mind or spirit and I appreciate them. I think it is something to do with the act of appreciation.
I know that the world will keep turning and my life will continue to move forward. Situations will arise, bills will come, trouble will come, things wil be super busy...
But by the simple act of knowingly and intentionally stopping to appreciate the moment...I experience and enjoy more of life, more of love, more of the Lord.

5 comments:

Motherhood is Here said...

That is a great point about photography. Have never thought about that before. I like the way you get that whole enjoying stuff thing out there in such detail. I know I asked you about the house church thing before and maybe you responded under your comments. I will go back and look. I was surprised when you said you were a grandmother, you look really young. Have you heard of John Eldridge? (sp)...well, I went to this house church conference where he was speaking. He was so dynamic and interesting. Well, he talked about his wife a lot and I imagined her to be small, petite and extremely cute. I saw her today on the tv...and she is a nice looking woman, but she is big, way bigger than him. I'm not saying this to be mean, I'm saying it because I was pleasantly shocked. It was so nice to be getting one of those "God loves us" messages from such a respected figure, that is not by popular standards, a striking physical beauty. It brings kind of a paradox to their message....their message is more authentic because of who is delivering it. I know it sounds really bad in a way, but it actually made me feel like there is hope. My mother is big and she has suffered so much on the inside because of it. I just wish I knew how to help myself, so that I could help others. Well, enough babbling. Nice post and hope you have a great week!

Jada's Gigi said...

Hi Poorart
thanks for the compliments..yes, I'm a grandmommy, thats my bee-u-tiful grand daughter, Jada in the pic...I knwo, I can't believe it myself. lol
You know, yours was the blog I was referring to in this post..it really got me thinking because people comment all the time that I and my family in general seem to really enjoy life...its true, we do...we've never had much in the way of "things" but the Lord has been gracious to help us not to mind too much, to live "in the moment" accepting things as they are, in a good way, but not settling, you know? ...He's really great about accepting us just the way we are with no improvement necessary and thats not just in the beginning to sort of "lure" us in either...its every day..all the time.
Thanks Lord!
thank you Ms. Poorart for getting me thinking.:)

Goody said...

Thankyou! I appreciate you! Lord, make me more aware of you in every way!

amberdusk said...

Cheryl-
I love those moments when I am driving to work in a freenzy and I look up at the hills and the clouds and remember how amazing it all is. I think it is very important to appreciate everything around you. For many people that is hard to do, that's why I consider it an exercise, something I force myself to do.
amber

Sarah said...

In the words of someone you know quite well, "He is present Now. And Now. And Now. And Now...."
Hugs to you both.