Only a Moment

Last month I went on holiday to Northern Ireland. I’d never been before, and so there was lots to see, and do, and plan. Much like Britain, one of the joys of traveling through Ireland is that the landscape changes often and so as you move from place to place you encounter whole new worlds. Only having a week there, we wanted to see as much as we could and so, this entailed a fair amount of traveling. Sitting in the back seat as my dad drove, meant that I got to see lots of Northern Ireland whiz past my window. Aside from time spent at the cottage we were staying at, we probably spent nearly as much time travelling, as we did out of the car in the places that we were travelling to. This meant that we got to see great swathes of the rich tapestry of Northern Ireland and it’s changing landscape with its great variety. Traveling at speeds you could never accomplish on foot we definitely saw more of Ireland when in the car. Or did we?

Something different happens when you stop. When you spend time in one place. You begin to see more deeply. As you take a moment to watch. Instead of just seeing a donkey in a field, you hear its brae and feel it’s fur. Instead of just seeing farmers at work, you hear their stories, you better understand their way of life. With so many choices of what to see and do, it can be tempting to take a quick glance and then move your gaze on to the next thing. It can be easy to find yourself busy thinking about what is coming up rather than about what is here.

Life is not so different. In many ways it is a journey, winding through different seasons and landscapes. It can be easy to be so focused on tomorrow that we forget about today. So busy with what we’re trying to achieve we don’t appreciate the process, so preoccupied with where we’re going, we miss out on enjoying where we are. This can be particularly true when where you aren’t isn’t really where you want to be. It’s easy to be distracted by the prospect of the giant’s causeway when you’re sat in an Asda car park waiting for the rain to subside. Yet even here, there are moments to enjoy and beauty to be seen; the kindness of strangers in the midst of challenging weather or watching a hooded crow, a rare sight in England. If we believe that God goes everywhere with us, then every place and every moment we occupy are holy. So that in every place and at every time, there are glimpses of God to be seen and things he wants to show us, if only we take the time to look. It is good to prepare for tomorrow, it’s also very good to embrace today.