Warm welcome to Matt Knisely on behalf of Thomas Nelson!
I never use to be concerned with time. I never cared about it, nor did I care how I would spend my day; I let it passively slip away—until now. Maybe it has something to do with age or the intensity of life and how it’s winding down, like the grandfather clock that stood in the corner of my grandparents’ home.
Regardless, I’m consumed with it now.
Time is precious. But even more valuable to me are the liminal spaces that link one instance of time to another and how they are strung together, not haphazardly, but carefully woven into the tapestry of life. They are the moments of life itself, and they have me captivated. However, fully living in these moments, when our world seems organized against it is just . . . hard!
My camera helps me focus on what’s in front of me and not let the moment slip away. Most people are looking for these big, magical moments that grab your attention like something you see on America’s Funniest Home Videos or read about online. But our lives are made up of intimate moments . . . of memories big and small . . . like meeting the love of your life for the first time . . . or when you say goodbye to someone you love for the last time . . . or the time your child grasps your face with her chubby fingers and says, “You’re my best daddy”. . . or the moment you finally choose forgiveness over hate.
Time, while it’s fleeting, holds wonderful things that only change with its passage . . . the delicate features of a newborn, the wobbly steps of a toddler, the pure innocence of childhood, the special moments between you and your spouse, and the remarkable bonds in a family. Photography has allowed me to see life with a whole new lens: to capture time in an instant and relive that moment’s story forever. It’s allowed me to live a fuller life and to see the beauty of every second of the day.
Here are five ideas to help you live in the moment and see the extraordinary:
- Right Here, Right Now
It’s more than the title of a song from the ‘90s. It’s a state of awareness and about being present, getting rid of the distractions, booting down, turning off the TV, setting down your phone and forcing yourself to slow down, do less and live slowly.
- Pay Attention To The Little Things
It’s the subtle moments that make life grand. If we spend time being conscious observers and conscious listeners, we capture the simplest details. Those details are the juice, the essence of our life’s story; what moves each of us and stirs our souls.
- Get Lost
Lose Control. Have Fun. Play. Be Curious. Replenish. When’s the last time you stopped to watch the wind sway through the majestic trees around you? Or sat down in the middle of a lush green park and enjoyed the laughter of children playing? Give a gift to yourself and just enjoy the world around you.
- Move Forward
It’s the only direction we are given. When the intensity of life is breathing down our back, don’t worry about it, leave all worry in the rearview mirror, because you cannot go back. Be positive and you will find a sense of peace and calm in the middle of a stressful and chaotic world.
- Be Thankful
Take a moment to be thankful for the things you have been given. Every morning we have a brief moment to sip a hot cup of coffee. Every morning we squint at the bright rays of the sun hitting our eyes. Every day the cool water splashes our sleepy face. Every time someone greets us, “Good morning!” Every time we see that sweet smile on our loved one’s face. Every time we decide to help someone who asked us for a favor. These are just some of the many brief moments we forget to be thankful for.
We live life at an alarming rate and the moments that hold it together are lost if we are not focused on them. The most precious and defining moments in your life are the ones you are present for. They are the ones you seize. They are the one’s you are awake to experience. They are the moments worth waiting for.
Matt Knisely,
MattKnise.ly
Visit Thomas Nelson and check out Matt’s book, Framing Faith.
Photo: DollarPhotoClub.com