Appreciate the Moment!

We recently returned from a two-week visit with our family in New Mexico. The temperature was unseasonably warm, winds were light, and the daily bright sunshine is what is expected in the Land of Enchantment. This is a high desert experience with lots of sagebrush, tumble weed, and sand. Albuquerque has a beauty all its own with its narrow green belt down the Bosque and Rio Grande River. And who can refuse three-hundred days of sunshine!

ABQ Balloon Fiesta

The conditions were perfect for the Balloon Fiesta this year! It is the world’s largest hot air ballooning event. It is so unique to be down on the infield at Fiesta Park where you can stand side-by-side with pilots and crew members who prepare their balloons for launch just after sunrise. The Balloon Fiesta is a once in a lifetime experience that everyone should have on their bucket list!

This year we passed on going down to the launch site since we have already been on three other occasions. Instead, we let the balloons come to us! Our daughter’s family lives northwest of Albuquerque and many balloonists come this direction for their landing on nearby streets and open areas in the neighborhood. It is common to look up in the beautiful sky from the patio of the house and speak to those passengers in their gondolas. They are cruising low enough that you can converse and hear their playful requests like, “What’s for breakfast?”

We returned from ABQ Paradise to the routine of our lives here in the Land of Lincoln. My rider lawn mower blew a gasket before we left, the laptop had aged beyond Windows 10 and could no longer download updates, and a scheduled doctor’s appointment or two awaited each of us! We set about taking care of matters as the stress began to build. I decided we needed to take the longer and scenic route home from Petersburg where we purchased a new John Deere rider.

Lincoln's New Salem

I told my number one co-pilot that we were taking a short diversion up the bluff to the historic and beautiful New Salem State Park. The trees in central Illinois are just now beginning to show their fall colors of deep red, burnt orange, and fading yellows. New Salem did not disappoint us! We stood in an empty parking lot near the venue and took our phones out for a photo op with this moment of the fall season!

The diversionary experience was emotionally and mentally cleansing. We welcomed the distraction to deal with the after-vacation let down. We could feel some of the stress lifting and new energy surging within us for the days ahead as we would get back to our routines as active seniors! I know when I’m in a moment and this was it!

The Bible reminds us that “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1). Scripture invites creation to “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord… Praise His Name!” (Psalm 96:1-2). Psalm 96 paints a beautiful picture of how even nature joins in the choir of praise. “Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming!” (Psalm 96:12, NLT).

This week I think I know what the Psalmist was describing. The trees were singing to us at New Salem! In some ways it was a quiet testimony to God’s handiwork, but it was an audible song that I heard in that moment in my heart! I had a nurse say to me this week, “I love fall!” and then she added, “But I know what’s coming!” Don’t let “what’s coming” (and truth is, we don’t really know!) steal your joy and silence your song in this moment of pure praise!

Let’s savor and appreciate this moment! This is the only moment we are promised… the here and now! And indeed, it is a beautiful moment!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2024 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 23, 2024 at 11:40 AM

    Would love to see the balloons, probably won’t get to. We have such a beautiful country wherever you go. Praise God

    ReplyDelete

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