Moments Matter

I went to my first regimental ball last Friday night. It was a formal affair. I had to wear my dress blues. You can see the pictures to clarify. You can also see that I busted out with my dance moves after the dinner was over. As most of you can imagine, I can work a dance floor. By work, I mean that I can sweat profusely. I didn’t do too bad a job. The picture you will see of me is me doing the “electric slide.” Yes I said that I was doing the “electric slide.” I did a couple other dances and dance moves that I am not sure exist. I made up some of them. It was a pretty fun event. For those of you who are familiar with it, there was a grog bowl. It would take to long to explain. Just ask someone or google it. It is a tradition.

The Chief of Chaplains was at the formal. He spoke. He is a General. He is also Southern Baptist. When I left the dance floor, I realized that he was standing there watching. Not my finest moment. I went over to him, sweat dripping, literally, from my forehead. I shook his hand, placed my hand on his back, and said, “Please don’t tell the other Southern Baptist that I was dancing.” He looked at me, motioned with his two fingers from his eyes to mine, and said, “This is between you and me.” I thought that was mighty nice of him. It is a good thing that he has a sense of humor. Otherwise, that could have been awkward.

It is the simple stuff that makes life good. I have figured out that life is really a whole bunch of simple moments tied together in sequence. This isn’t groundbreaking information. But, we do seem to forget that each moment adds up to a day, a week, a month, a year, and so on. It is that simple. I often forget this very basic reality of living. It can sap the joy right out of life.

I am not going to ramble on about my philosophical views. I will just say that I am re-learning how to enjoy each moment. I figure that I cannot predict the future. I cannot change certain realities. What I can do is attempt to enjoy the moment. I can smile when I want to scream. I can laugh when I want to cry. I can return a gentle word when I want to curse someone. I can give when I want to take. I can understand a man who is hurting rather than despise him for his hateful ways. I can love the unlovable. I can do all these things more effectively because I see that moments matter.