Moments

Every once in a while a moment happens. It's a smell, a place, a shirt, a song. Things that were become as real as the things that are, and you are drawn into them, or perhaps overtaken by them. Inside these fleeting moments we are reminded of where we have been, the obstacles we have overcome, and the way things used to be. I have come to know these moments as sacred. Nearly all of the events of my life are in the past, so when the present calls out to the depths of my soul and draws forth these memories, I consider it very significant. The best we can do at any given time is live out of all that we hold true within. And what we have within is the truth of what we have lived, the people we have known, the places we used to go. These sacred moments beg us to listen to our lives; they are trying to remind us of our story.

A moment happened to me not long ago. Flooded with sights, smells, and feel of things that I used to know, I became still, silent. Some moments bring hope and strength. Mine was the other kind, the ones that are a brief personal funeral for what was and never can be again. It was a time when things were better. That is not to say that things have been worse from that point on, but that they will not be the same. I was overtaken by the faces of people I will never see again, though they did not say goodbye, by the images of places where I used to be known, by the unmistakable feeling that I am older now and that "how it used to be" will forever remain in these moments, and in these moments alone. As sad as these things can be, I still consider them sacred. To lose sight of that is to lose sight of me, my story, and my future. We must lean into the changes, embrace the tragic gap between ending and beginning again, and listen intently to the echoes of our souls.

Resolution Progress - Month 1

One month into my decision to read the Chronicles of Narnia (and a few others along the way), I can confidently say that I have made good progress. Here is the list and current status:

C of N #1: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis

In Constant Prayer - Robert Benson

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

C of N #2: Prince Caspian (in progress)

I'm not sure I have actually ever completed three books in one month, so I'm really rather proud. Reading LW&W was good, but it is the one I know the most. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series since they are essentially brand new stories to me.

Benson's book focused primarily on the notion that we are to "pray without ceasing." His personal and honest style of writing made it very accessible and a delightfully enriching read. Benson heavily suggests that we turn to the ancient tradition of the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours, in order to work towards constant prayer. Loved it.

Bill Bryson is the author of some hilarious travel books, including A Walk in the Woods and In a Sunburned Country. However, Short History... is a dense exploration of what we believe the universe to be made of, who helped us get to that place, the science involved and how it was invented, and where perhaps we are headed. I may post another blog entirely on this book because it really got some stuff bouncing around in my noggin. Worth a look if you have a stomach for that kind of thing.

For now I hope to keep up the pace in February and get through a couple more. In unrelated news, I'm going to build furniture. That's all for now. Goodnight.