At Every Moment

Tal Ben-Shahar wrote, “At every moment in our life, I have a choice...Moments add up to a lifetime; choices add up to a life.” Last year, my journal began, “Lord, make me in instrument of your peace. And yes, it’s peaceful sitting here in the soft glow of candle-light. The power went out, but I still need to be here. I’m so grateful to be here now. This is disruption to my morning, a little resistance, but a reminder of how I am continually given the opportunity to respond to life rather than react to what life hands me. I am grateful for this reminder that I have a choice at every moment.” 

This morning, I read in Colossians 2, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” And I reread these words from Fred Rogers, “In all that you do in all of your life, I wish you the strength and the grace to make those choices which will allow you and your neighbor to become the best of whoever you are.” 

I have a choice. Disruption and resistance. Responding and grateful. Rooted and built up. Strengthened and overflowing. A wish for strength and grace. The best of whoever you are. Such great encouragement to start a new day.  

Today, I will have several moments, several opportunities, offered to me. And I will be free to respond or react however I wish. I pray that I recognize these moments as the precious gifts they are. These moments are the building blocks of my lifetime. But more important are my choices. These are the building blocks of my life. We are each given this one, precious life. I pray we choose to spend our moments well, beginning today. Beginning right now.