The Wonder of it All...

We seem to most often be in constant motion. We plan, create, accomplish, strategize, endeavor, manipulate, work, scheme, keep up, surge ahead. We construct lists of things to do... then we do them...then we mark them off...then we make a new list.

Constant, unrelenting motion.

On our luckiest of days, something comes along to stop us in our tracks...to remind us of what's important. On those lucky days, we regain a little perspective. It happened to me yesterday in the form of a simple e-mail from a friend. The story goes like this...

The teacher had been teaching along the theme of remarkable constructions of classical antiquity. Central to her lesson plan was the earliest version of "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" compiled by Antipater of Sidon. In an effort to help make the lesson memorable and relevant, the teacher instructed each student to create his own list of seven of the world's greatest wonders. Each individual list would then be collected and the "wonders" receiving the highest number of votes would make the class version of the list.

It turned out to be a rather raucous affair. There was a fair amount of argument and debate as the students tried to make the case for their personal lists. Ultimately, the list was as follows:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While collecting the votes, the teacher noted that one, lone, quiet student had not yet finished her list. "Having trouble?" the teacher asked. The student responded, "Yes...a little. I can't quite make up my mind because there are so many." Pleased and prompted by the level of engagement of her students around the exercise the teacher said, "Tell us what you have and maybe we can help."

The girl, quietly and shyly said...

1. To See...
2. To Hear...
3. To Touch...
4. To Feel...
5. To Laugh...
6. To Love...

The room became quiet and subdued. As the girl read her list, the class was reminded that the things we brush off as simple and ordinary and take for granted are truly, truly wondrous. The students were reminded that the most wondrous things in life cannot be built by human hands or bought at any price.

The girl concluded her list this way...And the greatest wonder of all, "God loved the world. So much that He gave His Son - the one and only Son - so that no one need be destroyed. In the Son, anyone and everyone can have a whole and lasting life."

The students regained a little perspective...so did I. Thanks friend.

Take 7 minutes and enjoy this video. It's Chris Tomlin singing "How Great is Our God." Just stop...listen...sing along...and celebrate the wonder of it all.

Did you enjoy this post or know of someone who might? Please share it by email, Twitter, FaceBook or a host of other options by clicking the "Share This" button below. And as always...I welcome your comments. Thanks...David.

Time

I heard Andrew Young reflecting on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this morning. Of all the things he said...one thing stood out to me. Young said, "You have to remember...as it turns out...Dr. King had a very short time to accomplish a great deal."

He was 39 when he died.

I couldn't help but draw a parallel to the life of Jesus. His public ministry only spanned a brief 3 years or so. According to scholars, He too was in his 30's when he was killed.

I was just thinking about time...

OK...here's the thing. We all know life is busy. It seems like there are just not enough hours in the day to do all the things we want...and need...to do. In fact, if you are like me...you are sitting there right now thinking about all the things you need to get done this week. I'm wondering how I'm going to squeeze it all in.

But the fact is, each one of us...no matter who we are or what we do or how much we have on our plate...every one of us has the exact same gift of just 24 hours each day. That's 24 hours...1,440 minutes...86,400 seconds. Nothing can change that. We can't buy more time...at any price...and once that second, or minute, or hour is gone...it's gone forever. We can't get it back.

When you take out the time dedicated to eating and sleeping and other necessities...well...there isn't much time left. It is a precious gift. The question becomes...how do we go about best using the limited time we have?

Perhaps one approach might be to stop "spending" our time and start "investing" our time. Just think of all the things that could be done in 24 hours...all the lives that could be touched...all the significant changes that could be made in your life and the lives of those around you. The fact is...we can actually make a difference in this world in just 24 hours...

...or, not.

Dr. Martin Luther King lived just over 39 years. Today...because of the way he chose to invest his time...there are thousands of schools that Dr. King would not have been allowed to walk in to when he was a boy...that are closed in honor of him.

Jesus...the Alpha and Omega of all time had a public ministry of just 3 years. With it...He changed the course of human history.

Choose wisely how you will invest your time. Do good. Change the world.

"Time's 'a wastin'."

Did you enjoy this post or know of someone who might? Click the "share" button below to send via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other options.

Photo by Ian Britton at FreeFoto.com