Kairos is an ancient Greek word used to describe a defining moment in time. We've all had our fair share of these moments and will continue to experience them in the future. For some of us, our most profound memories are those of great triumph, while for others, times of despair are far more prominent. Regardless, I like to think of these defining moments not as mere specks of time, but as life long journeys. In the grand scheme of things, every laugh that radiates from your heart and every tear that falls from your eye impacts who you are forever. Think about the biggest experiences in your life up to this point. How have they continued to mold and shape you? Where would you be, or who would you be, without these moments? Chances are, these experiences have been the beginning of continuous odysseys, whether you realized it or not.
But sometimes, I wonder how often we wait for time to define us, when really, time is ours to define. Like each unique grain of sand, each moment we are granted offers unique beauty if we are willing to open our eyes and look for it. Because if we can't find delicacy in the small things, how can we ever expect bigger things to come our way? Besides- "bigger" and "better" are things we construct in our minds- and they're never guaranteed. As we're reminded in James 4:13-14: "Come now you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit.' Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." So never forget to take advantage of the opportunities you have before they slip away. Devote each moment to what is important to you and to what has a positive impact on the world around you. Do this so that each day, you are continuing to make strides in the right direction, and each second is a defining one that begins a new voyage into things both new and exciting. Incorporate things that require you to step far out of your comfort zone and help you discover your amazing capabilities and passions. But never, ever forsake the small things. Take a moment in the morning to marvel at the way each drop of dew captures the brilliance of the blue sky. Stand in awe of the way the sun penetrates the clouds and bathes the leaves in golden light. Tell bad jokes, just to hear the sound of your own laughter. Smile at strangers, even when they don't smile back. No matter how gloomy things may seem on any given day, find something to enjoy. Even the biblical King Solomon, who saw so much futility and hopelessness in life, came to an important conclusion at the end of his otherwise bleak book Ecclesiastes: "After looking at the way things are here on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, in the now. There's no use brooding over how long we might live" (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20).
Most importantly, never forsake a moment with those who mean the most to you. You don't have to be on a grand adventure to make memories; you can make them while sitting at a red light! (But please be careful to obey all traffic rules and regulations.) No matter how cliché it may sound, life isn't defined by the number of moments we breathe, but by the moments that take our breath away, and who we share them with. Work hand in hand with the people God has placed in your life. Encourage them along the way, and in return they will do the same for you. Hold one another accountable on this thrilling and terrifying expedition where each moment is a stepping stone to something great. And no matter what you do, let it be done in love.
I have no doubt that truly incredible things are in store for each and every one of us. But if all we do is look for incredible things, then how many of them will we miss along the way? My prayer is that as we proceed on the journey of life, we will allow ourselves to be shaped by all of the wonder and beauty around us, and maybe, just maybe, make every moment a Kairos.
