I Once Was, But Now

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Have you ever been struck by a moment of awe? Have you ever been in a seemingly mundane moment that surprised and delighted you? It seems the older I get, the more of these moments I find. Just stopping everything and gazing at the beauty and wonder of it all. Something seems to find us. That something is what we seek. Even if we don’t know what we seek, the sought finds a way to find us.  

John Newton wrote the words, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Amazing grace found the lost and blind Newton, and it has found me, over and over again. It’s important to pause often and consider what it is we truly are asking for in life. What are we seeking? What door are we knocking on?  

I’ve found that pausing and asking these questions opens me up to recognize life’s wonder. I’ve found more moments of awe, surprise, and delight. When grace finds us, we can see more clearly the opportunities for love, joy, and peace. To live better and to serve better.  

I have my dad’s watch sitting here on my desk. It’s an old Timex Indiglo that probably cost him $10-20. But this watch is priceless to me. It reminds me that time is precious and priceless. He wore this watch for years and looked at it countless times. Each time he did, more of his life had passed and less of his life remained ahead of him. 

This morning, I paused and looked at that watch. As I did, I considered the treasures of life I seek. Not so much the stuff of life, but the opportunities of life. I’ve spent far too many moments lost and blind. I intend to spend as many as possible found by grace and see this precious and priceless life for the gift that it is. I once was, but now I am.