Blink moments happen more often than we realize. When we do recognize a moment of keen insight, a realization of hope, or the touch of beauty, everything pivots. What was is no longer. Darkness gives way to light, fear to hope, tiredness to energy. I cannot predict when they will occur. I do know that I still catching myself wondering about moments where life changes in ways unexpected.
I feel very lucky that I have been on the receiving end more than the giving. I do know if my enjoyment is one of awareness or reality. As I spoke with a friend yesterday, we ended up in a deeply personal moment of sharing. I could feel our conversation slowly spiraling into a dark spot. I felt powerless to do anything to change the direction or alter our destination. In a moment of candor, I shared my observation of what he had already contributed and how I thought he could do more. It was not meant to be complementary, just candid. It touched him from his heart outwards. Instantly the conversation went from something depressing to one of endless possibilities. I had witnessed a blink without the emotions and I found myself startled by the instant change.
In recent days I have found myself on the other side of the conversation. I know the reasons for hope. I have a good sense of the possibilities. Yet there is a darkness that is winning the quiet time. It felt like a heavy load that I could not share or let go of. Two things happened. I remembered David advice; “I let it all out; I said, ‘I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.’ Suddenly the pressure was gone – my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.” (Psalm 32.5) Additionally, the same friend that received my words of hope returned them in ways he never imagined. In my tiredness I found energy. In the darkness I could see the light. In the blink of an eye, all things were new. May it be true for everyone, everywhere.
