God Moments

“Do we human beings truly realize life while they live it – every, every minute?” asks Emily, a young woman in Thorton Wilder’s play Our Town. In the play Emily dies in childbirth but is granted a unique experience: the Stage Manager allows her to return from death and live one day of her life with her family. And filled with high hopes for that day, she is disappointed. Just before she returns to her place in the cemetery, she reveals her frustration to the Stage Manager: Emily: “We don’t have time to look at one another. (She breaks down sobbing.) I didn’t realize. All that was going on and we never noticed…. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it – every, every minute?” The Stage Manager: “No. (pauses) The saints and poets, maybe, they do some.” (Wilder, Our Town, 100) Poets and artists need to pay attention to this stuff so they will have insights to call the rest of us to attention. Poets/artists must take time to penetrate beneath the surface of things – to rediscover the meaning of love and perceive the impact of reality on personal lives. We don't typically experience such moments unless they are very special times. We live in such demanding times...to be totally honest. Our whole lives are full of busyness. We are entirely too busy! We’ve places to go, people to meet, meetings galore. Our families demand time, and lots and lots of energy. We have a list of books to read, exercise classes to attend, and houses begging for attention. We promise to do things for the church, or the schoo,l or the neighborhood watch association, and in frustration we throw up our hands and call at the last minute and say, “I can’t make it.” So, ask yourself right now... “Why am I doing all of this activity? Where am I going?” or you may find that you can pray while jogging or doing pilates, but the busyness does my prayer and meditation life no good. I confess the busier I am the less I pray. I need those quiet moments for reflection, prayer, and thought – moments for insight and revelation. I need God Moments....and in order for me to get them....I make choices everyday. I can have a God Moment by getting up at 5 when Frank goes to work...or I can deprive myself of that moment...by sleeping til 6. The choice is mine. Today I chose to sleep...and have a crick in my neck. Tomorrow....tomorrow I will definitely make the other choice.