One of my daughters, gave a talk at a retreat several years ago that I
thought was so wonderful, I wanted to share it again with you. She had an
awesome way of looking at the things in life that reminds me to look at things
good and bad in a different way and to not take your faith for granted. Here she
is talking to her peers about that very thing:
I’ve always had a pretty strong faith life and have loved having this solid
base and direction for my life and decision-making. Until not too long ago,
though, I really thought I was missing something or doing something wrong. See,
I had never had that one big “Aha!” moment. You know, that huge experience that
suddenly puts everything in your life into perspective and completely recreates
you?
Well, one sunny day, I was lounging outside between my college classes with
my Cherry Coke. It was one of those rare moments when I felt like the absolute
only thing I had to do right then was to be right there under the gorgeous blue
sky. It was like God had reached down His hand and scooped up all my worries and
stress, and there was no way He was going to let me ruin that beautiful day with
any black clouds of my own. It was right then I had this sudden realization, a
baby, Aha, you could say, that everyone’s faith is different, and unique and I’m
not doing anything wrong just because I hadn’t had a giant Aha moment. I DO
experience Aha moments, in mostly smaller, daily ways, like sitting on a bench,
enjoying the sun. So as I sat there, I slowly started remembering other little
Aha moments in my life:
I’m 3 years old and get my finger stuck in Mom’s sewing machine trying to
see how close I can get the needle to my skin: Aha, listen when Mom warns
you!
I’m 12, looking forward to a new baby cousin when my aunt has a
miscarriage: Aha, WE do not always have perfect plans.
I’m 14 and in the 8th grade when one of my best friends and her entire
family dies in a plane crash, causing my classmates and me a nauseating,
disbelieving, confusing pain we’ve never felt before: Aha, I will not always
understand.
That same year, my grandma has a series of paralyzing strokes leaving her
confined to a wheelchair, her right side paralyzed: Aha, I do not always have
total control.
I’m 15, learning to drive and back into a storm drain during my first
driving lesson: Aha, I can pick myself up after mistakes and move on AND, curbs
are a good thing!
I’m 17 when my Dad gets downsized from his job and I instantly dislike the
person in charge of personnel: Aha, hate solves nothing!
I hesitantly experience a TEC retreat for the first time and leave on an
excited, refreshed high: Aha, God loves surprises!
This summer I became a Eucharistic Minister at church: Aha, God is SO
present He gives me shivers.
The guy I want to continue dating gives up his partying lifestyle so he can
be with me: Aha, people CAN change and I am worth that change!
August 29, my Aunt gives birth to a perfect baby girl, four months
prematurely: Aha, life is a beautiful struggle.
Not long ago, one of the most truly amazing men I have ever been blessed to
know suddenly dies of a stroke, only halfway through his life: Aha, I cannot
take a single person or moment for granted.
Don’t ever be afraid or feel inadequate for never having a single, gigantic
moment in your life where your faith is perfectly, permanently connected,
because faith is the constant journey of us becoming better, always learning and
God always teaching. The experiences, both joyful and painful, that we go
through shape us and show us how God is molding us more than one Aha moment ever
could. All we have to do is let Him scoop those worries and troubles into His
hand and realize He helps us through even through toughest times if we just let
Him. He wants us to let Him be in control so we can see all those little Aha’s!
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