Moments

"I never thought a production could change my life, but moments did! Moments was amazing!! Thank you to everyone in it!" I saw this post on my young friend's wall. It gave me an idea for a posting on my blog. The moments that change our life. Sometimes we don't know the moment is changing our life, either we are in shock or just oblivious to change that is occurring until we look back on the event and then realize it was a life changing moment. Apparently my friend was aware of life changing moment. Sometimes an event will happen that causes one to look at their lives or at things differently. Maybe my friend was inspired; I haven't talked to her. Usually when I call her I get her voice mail.
Some of the moments that change my life were 30 plus years in February. Life was good when I had just gotten back from Logan to see a college friend. There on my bed was an urgent note to call home. When I called I found out my dad had been hospitalized for heart trouble. It was the beginning of a painful two weeks. He died the next weekend and two weeks later my family returned from Colorado where we had laid Dad to rest. I knew on the 2nd return that my life would never be the same. I had experienced the reality that life was fraught with trials and challenges. I had challenges before, but none like this. Life was still good, but no longer a complete bliss.
Probably a less noticeable change of life occurred 10 or 15 years ago. President Walker of the Holladay North Stake asked us to read the Book of Mormon between (the weekend before) Thanksgiving and the end of the year. I thought there was no way I could do that. But I decided to accept the challenge; I mapped out a plan to read a few moments in the morning before work and then a few moments at night. I decided to read a book a week with the exception of Alma, which was two weeks. And to my surprise I finished the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. I gained confidence and later when President Hinckley asked us to red the Book of Mormon from August to the end of the year, 6 or 5 years ago, I was up to the challenge. I knew I could do it.
On stove light is a quote magnet that reads "we do not remember days. . . we remember moments." I have a tendency to disagree with that quote, partly because I do remember my birthday in 2000. I was with my family and because of that it was one my best birthday. Nothing happened to change my life or how I thought of things. But I did gain a greater appreciation of my family.
But I have to admit after reading my friend's post on Facebook, I am more in agreement with the quote. We do remember life defining moments. We may not remember much of the day because the moment stands out. I don't remember much about that February Sunday, but I remember the moment I saw the note and when I called home. I remember being with my mom to select my dad's casket. I remember my dad's cousin talking about how we say that we have a tendency to put off things until it is too late. I remember Baby Mike pounding away on the keys of my Aunt Wilma's piano. He got us to smile in a somber time.. I don't remember the days of my first Book of Mormon challenge but I do remember the moment of doubt when President Walker challenged the stake and I remember the hope as I planned the outline of accomplishing the goal and the satisfaction when I read the last verse of Moroni. I remember the moments of bribing Jared with pizza from The Pie when President Hinckley challenged the whole world wide church to read the Book of Mormon. Reading was a challenge for Jared, but he read it while listening to Book of Mormon on CD. All for the love of the pie. It was a nice winter afternoon when we drove over to The Pie to bring home two giant pizzas for the family. Like my challenge there were moments of doubt and moments of hope. And definitely a moment of joy when Jared took his first bite of the pie on that early January day.
Yes, we do remember moments, especially those that change our lives or inspire us.