Yesterday, as we walked back to the house from the car, after church, my youngest was walking slowly. It was a slightly warmer day than normal, but the winds were high, and I was urging her to move faster as I shivered in just a light jacket. She seemed unmoved by the chill in the air. Instead, she was laughing into the wind, mouth open wide, as though she was trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. But there was no snow; only wind. She yelled over the winds, “Mommy! I’m catching the wind!” and then opened her mouth wider, giggling as the wind rushed over her face.
The irony of this moment, was that the second it happened it was done. This precious moment was gone, as fast as it came; just like the wind.
This may seem an odd, even depressing verse to choose for an uplifting Monday message. But I do have encouraging words to share. While this particular verse is in reference to not boasting about tomorrow, because we can’t claim to know God’s plans, I want to explore what happens when our mist vanishes. As moms, or parents in general, we are often encouraged and advised to hang on to each moment, treasure every second, enjoy every minute. Young adults heading off to college for the first time are often equipped with the same advice. It is a lot of pressure in a life filled with moments that are not always treasure-able. Like the wind, our moments can’t be caught. They can’t be held, even the ones we wish to cling to forever. Moments are fleeting. Sure, we can preserve some with video and pictures to look back on. We can retell stories we never want to forget. But once that moment is gone, it is gone, replaced by new ones right behind it.
These days, almost everyone shares their moments on social media. You can’t go out with friends or family without someone capturing the event. Many are even live-streaming their moments directly to their friends and family that couldn’t be there. And don’t get me wrong. I love that we can connect to our friends and family from afar! I even love that Facebook stores our memories up for us to look back on. But we have become so obsessed with these moments, that sometimes I wonder if we’re forgetting to live them.
As I watched my daughter, catching the wind, I realized what a metaphor this was. No matter how many videos or pictures we shoot, we cannot keep moments. They keep moving. All we can do is be in them, catch them as they come, knowing another one is right behind it. We can allow ourselves to be wrapped up in those moments, as they circle, and careful about what we put into them.
Because like the wind, those moments have great power. They hold power over our memories; how we will be remembered, and how we will remember others. The wind has the power to give life or create destruction. Our moments can plant seeds of life and love, or cause great conflict and chaos.
One day, when you are done collecting all your moments, what you’ve been able to preserve in pictures and videos, and on social media, will be passed down to your loved ones. What will they see in these captured glimpses of you? Will they see your heart for Jesus? Your love for people? When the moments end, what traces of you will be found? Will we find seeds of love and life? Or destruction and chaos? Life will always be full of imperfect moments. Even the wind kicks up dust as it disperses new life. What story will your wind leave behind?