Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Misunderstanding the Moment

"Father, give me eyes to see and a heart to respond to all which will come to me this day. Forbid that I should miss its graces by looking ahead to some tomorrow. Let me accept the newness each moment brings with awareness and gratitude. In the name of the one who makes all things new I pray. Amen" (Disciplines of the inner life)

This prayer really hit me today. I usually miss the graces God has for me on a daily basis. Why do I miss them? Let me contend that I miss them because I misunderstand the moment. In Mark 9:2-8 Peter misunderstood the moment as Jesus stood there transfigured before him. He thought it was a moment to build homes and to establish power when it was really a moment of new understanding and new realization for Peter, James and John.

In our work as innovators we often misunderstand the moment. Even today we will think that we are to aggressively pursue our dream when He wants us to humbly wait. We might think that today is the day when inspiration will hit and miss that inspiration because we were too busy to talk to our neighbor. We might be tired and hope that today will bring no new action when God wants to use this day as a milestone in our journey.

Being in tune with what God will do with each moment of our day is a tremendous challenge. However, it is the challenge of the Kingdom Innovator. Only when we are aware of how God is using the moments in our day will we be available to be part of the innovations that God wants to use to show His glory in this world.

4 comments:

Jeff said...

This excellent, jon. Well said. Here's to not missing the moment today.

Ellen Livingood said...

Thanks, Jon and Mindy!
We need to be constantly present in the current moment while also looking forward toward the future. I find it a constant challenge to balance those viewpoints.

Jon and Mindy Hirst said...

Jeff, Amen friend! Today I had at least one moment where I had the opportunity to speak clearly and step up. Very encouraging to see God work.

Jon and Mindy Hirst said...

Ellen, you are right that balance is very hard to maintain. But I think that as we begin reading the moments God brings to us, He gives us the skill to see the next one. I think there is something to be said for being faithful in the present and then seeing God's reward.