Good Moments
Dave Faust
Good Moments
Publication: The Lookout
Date: June 4, 2006
Column: First Look
Category: Gratitude; Contentment
The next time you eat at your favorite restaurant, watch what happens when the server brings your food to the table. There's always a look of eager anticipation on the diners' faces. They examined the menu, they ordered, they waited, and now there's a moment of delight when the food finally arrives.
Good moments abound if you watch for them. Think how you feel when you wake up, remember it's Saturday morning, and roll over for an extra hour of sleep. Or the way you feel when you open a birthday card and notice there's cash inside.
Some moments mean more fun is yet to come. You settle down to watch a good movie with a bowl of popcorn in your lap. You pack your car and head down the road on the first day of a long-awaited vacation.
Some moments are good because they mean something difficult has come to an end. The final bell rings on the last day of school. You walk across the stage to receive your diploma on graduation day.
Some moments are good because they signify achievement. You step on the scale after dieting for a month and discover you've lost 10 pounds. You swing the bat and connect squarely with the ball, driving it far into the outfield. You were nervous about taking a test, but the teacher hands it back with an "A" on top of the page.
Some moments are good because they mark a fresh beginning. A new disciple of Jesus Christ emerges from the baptistery dripping with water and brimming with enthusiasm for the Lord. A groom catches a glimpse of his bride as she starts her march down the aisle. You settle behind your desk on the first day of a new job.
Some good moments simply need no explanation. You disembark from an airplane and there's a familiar face waiting to greet you at the airport. You step into a hot shower after a hard day's work. You slide behind the steering wheel of a car that still smells brand new. You relax in air-conditioned comfort and sip iced tea on a summer afternoon. You sink into an easy chair and read a book to your grandchild.
The Bible tells about some incredible moments. How did Moses feel when he was tucked away in the cleft of the rock while God's glory passed by? What was it like for the man born blind the moment Jesus enabled him to see? What was it like for Thomas when he first saw the hands and feet of the risen Christ?
A day is coming when time gives way to eternity, but until then, each moment matters. We need to savor the pleasant moments and learn from the unpleasant ones until we see the Lord face to face—which will be the very best moment of all.
This column first appeared in The Lookout on Jun 4, 2006.
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