Noticing What Matters in LifeBy Rev. Christopher Ian Chenoweth
"God said, "Listen to My words: "When there are prophets of the LORD among you, I reveal Myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams." Numbers 12:6
A man named Mr. Smith was flying from San Francisco to LA to visit family. Unexpectedly the plane stopped in Sacramento along the way.
The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would re-board in 30 minutes.
Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind.
Mr. Smith had noticed him as he walked by and could tell the blind man had flown before because his Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him throughout the entire flight. Mr. Smith could also tell he had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him, and
calling him by name, said "Keith, we're in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" Keith replied, "No thanks, but maybe the dog would like to stretch his legs."
Now, picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete quiet standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with the Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
It's funny in life, how often we notice things that appear wrong. But often we are blind to the things that appear right. The older we get the more blind we may become, to ordinary beauty, then we have learned over the years to take for granted.
Spiritual vision allows us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary things.
A student shares a special remembrance: “I had a very special teacher in high school, many years ago, whose husband, unexpectedly and suddenly, died of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students.”
As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, the teacher moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important for me to say before break."
"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate, and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end.It can be taken away at any moment.
Perhaps this is a way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day. Time, and the enjoyment of that time, is God’s Gift for you to unwrap, daily."
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise."
“From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked pie wafting out of someone's kitchen, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the pine needles in the trees, or the way the morning light catches the snow as it falls gently to the ground."
“Please LOOK for these things, and CHERISH THEM."
“For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the 'stuff' of life, the little things we are put here on earth to enjoy, the things we often take for granted. The best gifts are the ones we choose to
give to ourselves, and they do not cost money, but rather, are an investment of our awareness. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time...it can all be taken away."
The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room, silently.
That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.
I was living in a wonderland of joy.
Every once in awhile, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see during the hours of this day.
Wherever you go, go as a child that is discovering the joys of life.
For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do. Give yourself the gift of marveling over your life.”
POSITIVE DAILY PRAYER: Dear God, my prayer today, realizing I was once blind-- may I now SEE.
POSITIVE DAILY AFFIRMATION: God's Divine intelligence is now active in my mind,
adjusting, harmonizing, and healing every part.
POSITIVE DAILY QUOTE: "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin
I pray that you have an extra ordinary day by noticing the ordinary again, and giving thanks for it. - Rev. Christopher Ian Chenoweth
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