I’m a product of the 80s: back when a can of hairspray lasted only a week due to the enormous bangs trend, parachute pants were a rad thing and Billy Joel was looking for an “Uptown Girl.” I reflect and after the initial cringe, smile at what we all thought seemed to be cutting edge fashion…i.e. Jellies, Members-Only jackets, Polo shirts with the collars popped…”Like totally!” (to be said in a Valley Girl accent). It was a “total eclipse of the heart….” Speaking of…
This last week we found ourselves in the Northwest as the much-halaballooed eclipse took place. I hadn’t given it much thought until we began our travels toward said destination. Roads were jammed with solar seekers who wanted just the “perfect” view of “totality.” Hotels were booked solid. And let’s not forget those incredibly over-priced paper glasses that were designed to protect us all from complete blindness!
I got into the spirit of things and looked forward to this rare event only to discover that no more glasses were to be found. I saw one ad on Ebay that had ONE pair of glasses for $999.00. Gotta love supply and demand moments like that. I did not demand them that much.
We went old school and pulled out two pieces of white paper and inserted a pinhole into one of the sheets. We then watched as the eclipse progressed and created a tiny crescent shape on our second sheet of paper.
A friend of ours who was with us had a pair of eclipse glasses so we shared a direct glimpse for a few seconds each. Good times.
The time passed. The eclipse happened and we all resumed our lives. There was a WHOLE lotta build up for such a temporary moment.
Makes me wonder what else I build up in my mind that takes a lot of energy only to discover that the build up was much more than the actual event. Now mind you, I love a good eclipse. Truly. It is unique, rare and spectacular.
I just wonder if I purposed that much time and attention to other areas…relationships, prayer, studies, goals, etc. if I wouldn’t see the “spectacular” in other areas of my life.
I realize that it wasn’t that long ago that I was a teenage girl with big bangs in a Jessica McClintock dress watching “Mork and Mindy.” Time passes quickly. I must act on the things I truly care about.
Today.
The smallest acts are better than the greatest intentions.
I can’t keep waiting for everything to be ideal before I invite those friends over, start that business, write that book, have that talk or pray that prayer.
Eclipses come whether you’re ready for them or not and then…it’s over.
Don’t miss the beauty of today or its opportunity by worrying, fretting or strategizing about tomorrow. Turn around and embrace each moment with purpose, action, prayer and sincere love.
-Pam
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” Mt. 6:30
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