There are moments when life is lifted above the ordinary. There are moments in life when the supernatural collides with the natural at the intersection of “day-to-day” and leaves an indelible mark that cannot, nor will not ever be removed. It has been said that these instances take place in the few and far between moments of our lives on planet earth with some measured degree of infrequency. But I think they happen far more frequently than we think. I just think we don’t see or experience them because we rarely position ourselves to do so. I have experienced many of these moments in my own life. But I experienced one of the more profound ones this past weekend.
Over the last few weeks, my wife’s father has been transitioning and moving from his home in Roanoke, VA to an independent living center a few miles down the road in Salem, VA. My wife Lori has been traveling up on intermittent weekends to help her brother and father with the move. She grew up in that house. Her childhood memories are there. Many of my children’s childhood memories are there in that house. Many of my memories are there in that house. My boys and I have played so many football games in that front yard. There have been so many tricycles and outdoor toys ridden in that driveway. My boys have eaten so many pieces of French toast that my wife’s mother made in that kitchen. So many nights spent there and trails hiked on weekend excursions there. And tragically, my wife watched her mother die in that house. It has not been easy watching strangers place price tags on the things in that house which were once treasured so dearly, and preparing them to sell for next to nothing at an estate sale. It’s strange to think that if you live long enough, this is what becomes of all the things of value you amass in life.
As we left for Roanoke, I had a strong feeling we were supposed to be making this trip together. The estate sale would be in three short weeks and this would be the last weekend we would ever spend in that house that contained so many precious memories to us. Little did I know at the time, but it was more than just a feeling. As I would discover two days later, it was an invitation to something extraordinary.
The weekend was filled with fun, laughter, and many conversations centered around “Remember when…”. There were many paused, standstill looks at rooms, counters, and trinkets. Many thoughts, much surveying, many pictures, and much deep thinking. It’s pleasant the way good memories and thankfulness can lift you out of the perplexity and distress of life. These are God’s gifts to us to sustain us through life’s toughest moments.
The moment we didn’t wish for finally came. It was time to leave. This would be our last moment as a family together in that house. For old time sake, my boys and I went to the front yard to toss the football and emulate the many spirited football games that once took place in that yard. One last picture in front of the door. We pulled the front door closed and locked it. We got in the car. I knew this was the moment, but no one else knew it yet. The mood was lighthearted and fairly jovial. We could have gotten in the car and just drove away, but we would have missed the invitation to something divine. It was sitting there in the atmosphere. No one sensed it yet, but I did. I knew we had to grab it.
The Divine Bridge had been built between the natural and the supernatural and it was calling us out to the middle. So I reached for it. But my wife and children needed help getting there with me. So I pulled out my phone and pulled up a song to play it through the speakers of the car. The next words out of my middle son Ryder’s mouth were “Why are you playing this depressing music at a time like this?” I wasn’t playing depressing music, I was pulling them out to the middle of the bridge with me. Some may say that’s manipulating the moment. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was simply using one of God’s other great gifts to us, music, to pull the scales off their eyes and hearts. This is why music can reach places in our hearts like nothing else can. It is why the faith-filled believer sings with all their heart.
The music played, I backed the car out of the driveway to the house and pulled in front of the house and simply said, “One last look…take it all in…all of it.” Everything broke in that moment. My wife’s cheek broke, her lips quivered, and tears began to flow. My youngest son Baylon went silent. My middle son Ryder grew red in the face. My oldest son Jadon, who remembers the most there, had tears flowing down his cheek. Trying to fight back tears, the only other thing I could muster up to say was “There’s a whole lot of good there.” I was right. It was as if every memory, every precious moment over the years was thrown into one final evanescent second and played right before our very eyes. The car fell silent. I put the car in gear, grabbed my wife’s hand, and we slowly drove away. I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for what had been.
I’m so glad we stopped for that moment. I’m so glad the music got everyone else in my family to that moment. I’m so glad the Lord gave us that moment and was with us that day. We were not alone in that car. Life lifted above the ordinary.
The moment was only seconds, but it will never leave my heart or memory. I believe these extraordinary moments, these divine invitations flood our lives every day, but sadly, they get choked out and unseen by worry, complacency, schedules, and a misdiagnosis of the mundane. As we drove down the mountain that day, I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude. That is when it occurred to me, the gateway to that Divine Bridge for us that afternoon was thankfulness. It’s always been thankfulness…for every Divine moment in my life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Makes perfect sense. There’s a miraculous moment to discover God’s will and experience the Divine every single day of my life…and it all begins with thankfulness. I accept that invitation and I’ll be reaching for it every day I live, until the invitation is no longer needed and I’m standing in Heaven itself.
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