We do not remember days, we remember moments.
In their book Spiritual Literacy (Touchstone Books, 1998), authors
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat tell about Oggie Rand. He manages a
cigar store in Brooklyn. Oggie has an unusual habit - at precisely
eight o'clock each morning, he photographs the front of the store from
exactly the same spot. He collects his daily snapshots in photograph
albums, each labeled by date. He calls his project his "life's work."
One day Oggie showed his albums to a friend. Flipping the pages of the
albums, the man noticed in amazement that the pictures were all the
same! Oggie watched him skim through the pictures and finally replied,
"You'll never get it if you don't slow down, my friend. The pictures
are all of the same spot, but each one is different from every other
one. The differences are in the detail. In the way people's clothes
change according to season and weather. In the way the light hits the
street. Some days the corner is almost empty. Other times it is filled
with people, bikes, cars and trucks. It's just one little part of the
world, but things take place there, too, just like everywhere else."
This time Oggie's friend looked more carefully at each picture. No two
were alike. He slowly became aware of how unique every moment is.
Through a series of photographs, he became conscious of one of life's
great truths -- that each minute that passes is special, even sacred!
Writer Henry Miller has said, "The moment one gives close attention to
anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome,
indescribably magnificent world in itself." But we'll never get it if
we don't slow down. For it is these moments -- not whole days, weeks,
months or years -- that we will finally remember. Whatever happiness
and joy is to be found in life will be found in the moments.
Pay as close attention to each moment as you can, as if you were
carefully observing a series of snapshots. Don't rush through them,
allowing your mind to jump so far ahead that the present is lost. Each
is unique. Each is sacred. And each holds a special place in time. In
the end, it is these moments you will cherish and remember.
About the author: Steve Goodier is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books.
