Capture

This may end up becoming a bunch of rambling words with no direction, but I wanted to write today. The word that came to my mind as I was deciding what to write about was the word, "capture."

I know this word can mean someone wants to "catch something," say an animal or person, and hold them as a prisoner. It can also be the idea that an army captures a city and now has control.

The first thought that comes to mind when I think of this word is the idea of "capture the moment." This could be done through a photo, or going to a place and simply being at an event to "capture that time."

When we think of all those definitions above, the bottom line is, the word capture means life has changed. It is a simple reminder that life is constantly evolving and tomorrow is not like yesterday. These moments usually become exhausting because we had an experience that took our breath away, or made us focus so much to take advantage of the moment that we left tired.

Maybe you feel "captured" today by the moments of life that are holding you prisoner. Maybe you feel "captured" today by moments and experiences that are fun and wonderful, but are exhausting because you know that it means another stage of life is beginning. Maybe you simply feel "captured" by time itself and don't even know where to begin again...

Life definitely has a way of doing all of these things to us. I have felt all of these things lately. Changes that creep up and I know they are coming, but... So much of my life has been "hurry up and wait..." I find myself crying out to God daily to just keep me focused on what HE wants and what HE needs me to do. That is my simple prayer.

As I think about what that means for me each and every day, there are two prayers that I want to be my heart:

FROM THE COWARDICE that shrinks from new truth,

from the laziness that is content with half-truths,

from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,

O God of truth, deliver us. (me)

Blessed is Adonai, Teacher of Torah to Your people Israel.

page 205

I FIND by experience, not by reasoning,

but by my own discovery that God is near me,

and I can be near God at all times.

I cannot explain it, but I am as sure of my experience

as I am fo the fact that I live and love.

I cannot explain how I have come to live and love,

but I know I do.

In the same way, I know I am in contact with God.

page 209

Mishkan T'Filah A Reform Siddur

Today, I pray that if you feel you want and need to "capture a moment" take the time to stop and be. Don't let your body get a head of you. Don't let your brain overthink. I'm talking to myself here... I want to remember that I am not in control, HE is. And when I remember that it isn't about knowing it all, or understanding it all, or explaining it all... It's simply being in contact with the ONE who created me and finding HIM in all things with me.

I pray that you can rediscover with me the fact that we can be near to HIM at all times, and we can LIVE and LOVE because we are in contact with Him.

Capture the moment with HIM in the middle of it today... Then it isn't life being overwhelming and holding you captive, it is YOU LIVING with HIM and taking the moments captive by sharing HIS LOVE with those you meet.

Love and blessings,

Rose