Purposeful Encounters

I was flying back from Kansas City and everyone was anxious to fly out since our expected landing was 10:40pm on New Year’s Eve.  It should have given most of us time to arrive at our destinations, some to party, and others like me just wanting to get home to throw on some PJs and enjoy watching the ball drop in NYC. (Due to some delays, I never did make it home for that moment. My friend and I actually ended up parked on the side of 95-South watching the fireworks by Penn’s Landing. We made the best of it.)  As I walked down the airplane aisle, my big purse probably knocked a few folks in the head as I tried to squeeze by. Hoping I could catch a window seat, I looked down the aisle and caught a glimpse of this gorgeous woman probably in her late 50s sitting next to her husband. I couldn’t help but stop and take a moment to really look at her. She appeared to be having a deep convo with her husband.  She was stunning.

My eyes couldn’t stop staring at her gorgeous long silver hair. No, it wasn’t dyed. I know that’s like a thing right now to dye your hair silver, but this was actually hers. I thought to myself, “I better let her know why I’m staring so I don’t look like a creep.” I took the moment and complimented her letting her know she was beautiful. I could tell she wasn’t used to some random woman complimenting her,  as she smiled back with her face lit up. I could tell that moment made her day. Not only hers, but her husband as he took a look at his wife and gave her “that look” that couples that are still in love give their partner. Lol. This is what I’m talking about: I found beauty and had to make it known.

As I have been taking in the first four days of 2017, I’m super glad I didn’t rush 2016 out. The last week of December was key for me. It helped set me up for success in 2017. God surely had something for me that last week. This quote from Joyce Meyers came up: “God can do more in one moment than you can do in a lifetime.” My goodness, this is good! And, if it is true (which I believe is), I need to do a better job valuing my moments and really take in what is happening in me and around me. Most of us humans have a difficult time enjoying the “here and now”. We have so much on our minds at one time. From thinking of our families, our jobs, and our finances to what the heck are we supposed to be doing in our lives. It’s so easy to let our minds wander into la la land or just be so anxious and stressed that we can’t focus on what’s in front of us.

I have decided to make it one of my goals for this year to be more purposeful in finding the beauty in moments I’m experiencing. I want to experience the beauty of God as I grow in my relationship with Him. I want to take time out to find pleasure in the challenging and spontaneous moments of my life. I want to appreciate the mundane things I do and really find joy in knowing that God is with me in that too. I want to be more purposeful in finding the treasures in those around me–in the physical beauty, but more importantly the inner beauty. I think it’s important to recognize both. I want to stop and take a look at the sky and be fascinated by God’s creation and not miss the shooting stars where He reminds us of his love. I want to appreciate the rain and enjoy the lightning and thunder. God speaks in those moments and I don’t want to miss it. I really don’t want you to miss it either. So, one of my main goals this year is to take more stops, take more deep breaths, and take time to exhale and capture beauty. I challenge you to join me in this.  My Instagram will also be reflecting this journey I am going on. I hope your year has started off well and if not, take a moment to start fresh right now!

Please take a moment and share your thoughts in the comments section! Happy 2017!

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.