[the beauty of the moment]

Life is fast. In the book of James our life is described as "but a breath". A BREATH...that's it? Just a breath? My life seems much more complex, long and crazy to be just a breath! Compared to the eternity we have waiting for us, our life is simply a breath.

We can take this knowledge and look one of two ways:

Because I am just a breath, it doesn't really matter what I do with my life because I am not here that long..what difference does it make. Why care so much? Why not live for myself? Why not just do what I need to get done so I can have the things I want?

OR

BECAUSE life is short, I want my life to be genuine. I want to live in such a way that my family, friends, and strangers know how precious this life is. Why not seize every opportunity to make a difference? Why not love those around me, especially those living under the same roof,  and find ways to encourage them to truly flourish? Why not be careful to not fill my life with too many "things" that I miss the beauty of the moment.

[The difference lies in the discovery of whether or not life is about YOU or OTHERS]

I came home to Virginia for my first Thanksgiving in seven years this past week. My typical holiday break/trip home is filled with as many activities, plans, and parties that I can possibly fit in. I would leave a family gathering a little early to go meet up with a friend and then after staying up too late, get up super early to meet someone else. I was constantly going and ended up giving each person half of me because for the most part I was either worn out, exhausted or my mind was preoccupied with the next thing on my agenda....this trip I decided to be intentional.

There were unexpected surprises I was able to have because I didn't over plan...three hour conversations/visits that just randomly happened with my aunts and uncles, a day trip to Charlottesville with my mom and sister, long walks in the crisp fall air with great friends, hours of playing football with my cousins...

Sometimes we fill our lives with too much and other times we don't seek to love and invest in others enough. It is a fine balance - and one I am STILL learning. However, the more I remember that my life here on this earth is temporary and short, I am challenged to seize each moment whether that means taking time to laugh and snuggle with my mom on the couch or genuinely listen to a friend in need. Our life is a group of moments...but it is just a breath. Are you making the most of it today or just getting by?