It seems that I think of a moment as an indefinitely short period of time. You’ll get my example in a moment. However, of the occurrences in my life that I would call defining moments none of them were so simple as to happen in an minute, hour, or even a day. Perhaps the shortest time in which my life has changed is a week, but even then the influences that lead to my decision (for I qualify all of my defining moments by decisions I’ve made) are typically months in the making.
A case in point was (like my English teacher) when I moved to Dallas. I had no plans of moving when the opportunity to work at Heritage Church came along. I was perfectly content with my job, social life, and family. My mom married my step-dad just two years before I was a new older brother. It was amazing to have a real family for the first time.
I had recently preached at Transfer, and I spoke on Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord.” I showed a video of Jim Edmonds making spectacular catch after spectacular catch in center field for the Cardinals. I said that sometimes God sends opportunities your way, but you must be in a place where you’re prepared, and you will have to put forth effort to catch what comes your way. Some times the opportunity is easy to take up, but the really remarkable moments are when you must run at full speed and dive to make a catch. Little did I know that one of these rare opportunities was about to come my way.
I was about to go on my mission trip to Bolivia, when my good friend David called me up. He told me that the church that he was a youth pastor at was looking for someone to spruce up their media. Specifically the powerpoint sermon notes and song lyrics, but as long as they were hiring would like someone who’s into graphic design and possibly video. This is literally a description of what I’ve done in my volunteer ministry with Tranfer. The job would pay roughly what I was making full time, to work part time, and it was greatly encourage (and financially supported) that I go to school.
Now, this was rather bad timing. I was getting on a plane in two days to fly to South America, and they were looking to start interviewing in the next week. I thought and prayed about it while I was in Bolivia and decided that it was an opportunity I had to at least see if I could catch. I flew back to America and drove to Dallas the next morning to interview.
Even when offered the job, it was still a tough decision. Many of my close friends, and even my Pastors advised me against the move. What it came down to was allowing myself to be content working a marginally paying job or taking the chance of making my passion for serving other people through the church into my vocation. It was true that I was helping out in a volunteer position where I was greatly appreciated and established, but I was greatly limiting myself by not pursuing an education.
It has been difficult leaving my great friends and family, beginning school 6 years after high school, and working while in school, but I wouldn’t make a different decision today. The decision to move to Dallas has defined my life and my future like no other event short of my salvation in Jesus. Though this moment in my life has essentially just begun, I am satisfied with my choice and I look forward to the new opportunities that this path will bring me.
note: this is a response to a prompt from my English class.
