A moment in time...

I've had two what I refer to as 'moments in time' this week. Have you had those? An image, a picture, a smell, a sound, a touch, that brings you right back to a poignant moment in your history, one that has deep significance for you.

The first one happened when I saw a picture in a church presentation of young girls who had been rescued from the brothels in Cambodia and were now radiant smiling young women about to venture out on their own. I wished I could be there to walk with them. I was transported back to the island of Trinidad and Tobago to a small village church where there was a gospel crusade going on. It was a lovely tropical night, mosquitoes whizzing by, cool breeze fanning your hair and face. There were young girls there and I remember their faces and how I wanted to impart the wisdom that God had taught me thus far. Young fresh faces, so full of potential, yet so naive in the temptations that the world offered. I remember because it was a night that changed my life, a devastating crisis that made everything surreal, like a slow motion movie. I remember what I was wearing and I don't usually remember details like that. Wow, why did I remember that now?

And then, tonight, walking out of the library in twilight darkness, the fall leaves crunching beneath my feet, a cool autumn breeze embracing me, I was again transported back to the island of Trinidad and Tobago, to a mountain youth camp, walking from the dorm to the meeting place, through a bamboo clearing, in the twilight darkness with dried bamboo leaves crunching beneath my feet, a cool tropical breeze blowing ever so gently. Wow, what a happy time that was for me. How I loved that Victory Heights camp! Why did I remember that?

For whatever reason God brought these moments back to me, I am glad. They were both so different in nature, and both precious, holy moments.

Father, thank You for precious moments that bring such profound joy and even a bittersweet cleansing pain. It makes me see that You are and have always been there and now I can look back and see clearly Your Presence. Thank You. For those reading this, will You grant them those sudden flashbacks to times when they can see how You have walked with them? Will You give us the eyes to see Your moments that will last an eternity because You were in it? Thank You, Lord. Amen.