Carpe Momentum -- Seize the Moment

Often I blog about making moments count. There's a Latin phrase for it: Carpe Momentum which means "Seize the Moment". I’m thrilled to be alive HERE on planet earth today in this generation. Even though I live in a 55+ community, I sure don’t want to hang with anyone who thinks “old”. I love hanging with those who live in the moment and in that moment they find so much to be grateful and joyful about.

This is MY own definition of a MOMENT: "an instant, that almost imperceptible amount of time that barely registers measurement, but when being present and given full thought and attention to it, miracles can happen, inventions and innovations can be created, lives are transformed and heaven touches earth -- because the MOMENT was noticed.” – Donna Wuerch

The older I get the more I understand the importance and value of seizing the moment. Life’s “stuff” happens to all of us. "Stuff" happened to my husband and I. I remember a season of major challenges in our lives. Important life-altering decisions needed to be made. But, rather than sitting around worrying, we spontaneously decided to take a trip to Branson, Missouri on November 1st – the first day of Christmas at Silver Dollar City. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made. It was not only therapeutic to get-away-from-it-all, but it refreshed us and took our perspective and attitudes to a whole new place.

When I placed this figurine on my kitchen counter this Christmas, I couldn’t help but remember that weekend, because underneath the items we purchased (as a keepsake of times of sweetness), I would always write the occasion and the date on the bottom. We SEIZED the MOMENT on that weekend.

Seizing the moment is engaging in intentional thinking. At church, when the priest, rabbi or pastor is speaking, do you find your mind wandering or even falling asleep? And all the while, that speaker may have given wisdom for the answer you needed to help you get out of your difficult situation. I’m one of those “note takers” in church or meetings because I want my valuable time to be worthwhile and I want to give honor to the speaker’s valuable time that he/she spent preparing.

I’m the camera/photo opt “junkie” in our family. I'm always seizing the moment to take a photo of precious times. I'm taking a lot of photos while I'm with my two younger grandsons in Austin. Every moment of nurturing them, seizing the moment to cuddle them, and when typical sibling rivalry or some act of disobedience happens, I get the opportunity to talk about God's way being the best way. I want them to remember Nana as one who was always pointing to Jesus. I know these two young boys will soon no longer be needing for Nana to see after them -- like their two older brothers who are now on their own. So every moment seized is every moment remembered.

Seize the moment. It works like this. In the midst of the craziness of life, seize a few quiet minutes to rest, reflect, recharge. Maybe take a mini mental vacation to enjoy life’s blessings. Instead of working through your lunch hour (or just 20 minutes), turn off your phone and computer to truly enjoy the daily bread you have been given. Go out for dinner…at some place that serves your meal on a plate, not in a bag. Stop by to see your parents, older kids and/or especially your grandkids. If you can’t get there physically, then call them, skype them, or just sit quietly and send up a prayer for them. Reflect on life and give thanks that you can see, move or even just breathe.

Not on My Watch

My precious grandmother had 10 children. I remember her prayer “God, there’s not one of my children that are too bad for Satan to have. They will all come to know you in personal way before I ever leave this earth.” Maybe that’s what took her so long to “go home”, because when she passed away at 99-1/2 years old, every one of her children had a precious relationship with God. In today’s terminology, she might have said, “Satan, NOT ON MY WATCH will you get your hands on my children!”

Someone was asking me to pray for their wayward child and I told her the story of my grandmother. I told her to stand in the gap for her child and declare “Not on my watch” to the enemy.

When the tornado was close to my home last week, and I had my granddaughter and her friend with me at my home, I thought “Not on my watch, will I put these girls in danger!” I took them across the street to a neighbor’s storm shelter. I feel that way with those that I hold near and dear to my heart. “Not on my watch – will I stop praying for them.”

What if we had that attitude about our communities, our states and our country? NOT ON MY WATCH – will the enemy continue to invade our lives. It’s time for us to arise from our slumber and complacency and take a stand for what is right in our homes and our country. God placed us here on this earth at this time for a specific purpose – to be watch-men and watch-women. God is speaking to each of us to RISE AND SHINE.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Paul wasn’t telling us to be passive spectators—of entertainment or anything else. He meant something far different. He meant for us to stand up and be accounted for. He meant for us to say “Not on my watch will the enemy win.”

If ever there was a time for us to resist wasting our lives away, the time is now. To waste time is to waste life. A Watchman is one who has sympathy, empathy and compassion for our fellow countrymen and for all humanity -- so much so that he or she fullfills our God-ordained responsibility to watch and pray.

The best watch-men and watch-women that we can be is a LIGHT SHINER. We must be “the light of the world” by being a godly example for others to follow (Matthew 5:14). We must go into all the world and spread the “good news” of God’s love and mercy. In such a chaotic time in our world, God is calling us with a higher calling. NOT ON MY WATCH -- will the enemy win, because if GOD BE FOR US, who can be against us!

Time Flies

Day 43 of Photo Inspiration -- Time Flies
Yesterday, I took  my watch in for repair to a really great jeweler that I have here in Tulsa.  He recognized me and my watch, though it had been seven years since I'd seen him last (he had the time associated with my watch).  It's a beautiful gold watch that my sweetheart gave me for my 50th birthday.  He had it engraved with   "Donna, with all my love, Ron '98".  This is one of my precious treasures that I love so much because it took him a lot of time and effort to find this special gift for me.   He wanted it to be special because it represented, not just a milestone -- but  MANY MILES - STONE. I've always been a sap for sweet momentos.  In fact, I still have the first charm bracklet and charm he gave me on my 13th birthday....and the letters we sent to each other..

He gave me a surprise 50th birthday party.  He had taken me out to dinner and when we got home, there were many friends and family waiting for us there.  All these memories flooded my heart today.  I even remembered and pulled out the banner that he had up for me. Goodness, I've had that banner for 16 years now.

What made me reminisce like this yesterday?  Maybe it was because I knew I was headed to the part of town where my jeweler is located, so I knew it was a perfect opportunity to take the watch in.   But just taking it in, brought back a flood of memories.  And, on top of that, I saw a sweet cousin's post about it being her 50th birthday yesterday, and how she was surprised and blessed by her husband and friends.

One of our favorite songs was "Unchained Melody" sung by the Righteous Brothers and the words went like this:
"Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much, are you still mine?   I need your love.  I need your love.  God speed your love to me!"

Those words amuse me now -- back when we were engaged -- it did feel like time went by so slowly, and then after we married, waiting for our baby boy to be born -- time went by so slowly.  But now, it's no longer slow.  Time has gone by so quickly.  Now the old saying "Time flies!"  is way more true.  And if that be so, then it's important to make the most of each minute -- each hour -- and each day while we have the TIME to make it the most precious TIME that God has given us!  Let's make TIME count!

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand..." Psalm 31:14