Yesterday, I saw a hummingbird just 2 feet away from me while I sat on my front porch to unwind from the work week. It was beautifully amazing to watch it hover as if suspended in mid-air and to hear the buzzing wings (beating an impressive 70 times per second). As I stealthily fumbled to get to my cell phone’s camera, then glanced up to note the bird’s absence, I was reminded why “nature photographer” was never a personal career aspiration nor a viable avocation.

So in an age where our minds have been dulled by “reality TV” capturing everything “real time,” what do we do with those fleeting moments that pass us by so quickly? Savor, appreciate, and reflect on them – but not for so long that we get stuck in the past. A glimpse of beauty has often been given to encourage us at just the moment we may have considered throwing in the towel. A gentle but firm nudge says, “Keep on going – you can do this. Press on!” Acknowledge that glimpse His glory – for it was given as a gift.

As I grow in age and wisdom, I realize that we can’t live on the mountaintop, but we can appreciate a mountaintop experience in between the valleys of life. And I’m learning to be OK with that – because though it doesn’t always feel great, there’s value in the valley, too. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on something you saw, heard, or experienced this week that reminded you of God’s overwhelming love for you, His child. Then allow it to become a praise on your lips and a worship in your heart. After all, He put a lot of stuff on this planet just for you. Selah. 

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”
(Psalm 139:17)

“5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.”
(Psalm 145:5, 9-10)

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
(Psalm 147:5)

 © Copyright 2014 by Kayren J. Cathcart