Savor the Moment

Picture by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The other night, Gabe and I were watching the Winter Olympic Games. Specifically, figure skating. This sport has always been so impressive to me ever since I was a little girl. My sister and I loved watching it, even though it was so foreign to us, because we had never seen snow or ice skating. Now that I have experienced the snow, even walked on ice, and done a little bit of ice-skating (I’m too afraid to keep trying), it has become more real. Watching it the other night was very entertaining, but more than anything, it was insightful.

What stuck with me was the reaction of a couple of female skaters during the individual competitions. One was from Japan and the other from the U.S. They both did an amazing job, but their reactions were so different that it made me reflect on my own experiences in “competitions” in life. I’m no Olympic athlete, but haven’t we all experienced those “I did it!” moments? Think about the time when you hit that submit button for a test you have been preparing for days, weeks, months, maybe even years! Think about that job that was so hard to get, maybe you were competing against 100+ other candidates or even thousands, and you got it. Think about getting to the top of that mountain after hiking for hours, or walking that stage after years of mental, physical, and emotional training. 

The reactions of the figure skaters struck a chord with me because I have found myself in both of those “I did it” moments. One of the skaters had the “this was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done; I don’t even have words to express it, only tears come down my face” reaction. I could see it in her eyes, in her posture, in her tears. I could see all the hard work she had put into this, the late nights that no one else had seen. We had only seen this 2-minute performance, which does not do justice to all the blood, sweat, and tears this girl had probably poured into this sport. I could see it because I have been there, maybe not on an Olympic scale, but in my own world. Can you relate?

I remember walking up the stage to get my college diploma. I was smiling, and I looked happy to everyone, and I was. But no one could see the last three years I had spent away from my family, adjusting to a completely new culture while taking college-level classes in a language I was still learning. No one could see the late nights studying and then waking up at 5 am for cross-country practice.

Then there was the other figure skater. Her reaction after her performance was completely different. She was overjoyed. Her happiness and confidence in herself were so contagious that it made me cry. In her, I could see myself as well. That feeling of knowing that you have put so much work into this thing, and you have given it all in that ice rink. That assurance that no matter the score, you know you gave your 110%. You feel proud of how far you’ve come. It’s that feeling of being at the top of a fourteener in Colorado, feeling like you are on the top of the world. Every step took all your breath, but you didn’t give up, because you knew you could do it! Seeing that contrast was so powerful, and it got me thinking about what you do after you have those “I did it” moments.

The first thing that came to my mind is to savor the moment. I think this is so important because I know it can be hard, especially if you are like me and you don’t like giving yourself too much credit. I hate having the spotlight on me, so anytime I sense something like that coming, I withdraw. So, it gets very hard to sit back and appreciate all the hard work you did, especially when you feel like it wasn’t enough.  And I don’t mean that you pat yourself on the back and boast of how great you are. But I mean just sit in the moment and really savor it. Look back on all the hard work you put into this and be grateful. Even in the beginning, after God created the world, He paused to look back at everything He had made and acknowledged that ‘it was good’ (Genesis 1:31). 

After you have taken a moment to just take it all in, move to the side and give the glory to the One who is worthy of all the glory and honor, God. We need to understand that no matter how far or high we think we have come, we did not get there on our own. God is the one who gives every good gift (James 1:17) and makes the impossible possible (Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:17). Every time I think of this, I remember the story of Nebuchadnezzar. If you are not familiar with this story, I encourage you to read the book of Daniel. This was a king over Babylon, and he had become extremely powerful. Probably the most powerful king in his time. But his power had gotten to his head, and he completely forgot to give the glory to whom it was due (Daniel 4:30). So God punished him by making him become like a beast. Every time we feel like we are on top, we need to stay humble and give the glory to God. 

Finally, look around. Take notice and acknowledge everyone who helped you get there. I promise you, even if it feels like it, you did not make it there on your own. There on that stage on my graduation day, I could look back and see all the people who had helped me get there. From my family encouraging me from home and giving me wings to fly and go after my dreams, to the person who sponsored me to come study in the States, to the teachers who instructed me, to the English tutors who helped me understand the English language, to my friends who made the ride a little more enjoyable. Look back, and you will find that all along the way, people were helping you. 

When thinking of those two figure skaters, I think of those “I did it” moments. But even more, I think of the final “I did it” moment that is to come at the end of our lives when we meet our Heavenly Father and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant…”(Matthew 25:23).