By: Ansley Bonaventure, Middle School Principal

There are so many days where a single moment feels defining - where what happens in one moment truly seems to steal the whole day. In middle school, this can happen when a student gets a grade he or she didn’t want. That grade can feel like it defines him or her, and the day feels lost.

Or, in any grade, when an unkind word is carelessly thrown on the playground, those words can feel final, and the hurt can feel unshakeable. And, as parents, the weight of these moments grows with the difficulties of adulthood. When a job is lost, the gap can feel eternal.

All of these moments are so very real. Our Father feels them all deeply with us (and even before us). But that moment is not the end!

For example, what would happen if we just looked at the crucifixion each Easter season? What if we dwelt on Friday and never moved toward the resurrection? We would only experience a piece of the story. And, with just that piece, the hopelessness and the sorrow would feel overwhelming, final, and full of soul-wrenching grief. 

Those emotions would all be true - in that moment. But, our Father does not live or move or create in isolated moments. All the moments are connected and are secured to something bigger. Even Aristotle recognized this when he said, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

experiencing the whole of God’s story

How do we begin to move out of those moments so that we can experience the whole of God’s story of love and redemption? How do we move out of the moments of our days that feel like they are defining our lives? Parents, it is not easy. But, we must train ourselves and our children to see and to reach out to our God who sees the “whole.” 

When we are seized by the moments, let me suggest we…

1. Move! Let us start by literally moving. James tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) Physically move toward God - take a walk, find a place to pray, and kneel before Him. Ask Him to draw near to you and to shift your mind and heart out of the moment, toward His love.

2. Look! Psalm 121:1-2 reminds us, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Look up, even physically. Pray for eyes to see beyond the moment.

3. Seek! Seek the God-ordained fellowship of others. He has given us community.  Communion with other believers brings renewed perspective and sometimes even healing. In my favorite story in the gospels (Luke 5), a group of friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. In that moment, he was limited and bound. Yet, when the friends got him to Christ, “He saw their faith,” and He healed the man’s body. The moment was bleak, but with the help of friends, Jesus’s power became real.

4. Remember! Finally, remember what we know about God’s story and ours. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God will take all of these moments, all of these pieces, and use them for our good and for His glory. They are not isolated moments. They are part of a bigger story of love, grace, and redemption. 

May we not be overwhelmed by the moments but by the lavish love of our Father. 

May we help others along the way. We are called to do this. May we do it well.