The Moment that Matters

Photographers, really good photographers, know how to capture 'the moment that matters'. It's that one shot that captures what the photo shoot is all about, or what the story is all about, or what the scene is all about. How they do this is interesting in that it usually happens quickly. They find their position, take a warm up or two and then proceed to capture the moment that matters.

Not being a photographer I would have to take their word on the process and two things, however, jump out at me in this process. One is finding their position and the other is it happens quickly.

As leaders in the church often we think our position is up front leading, fixing, solving, advising, envisioning. And, yes, sometimes it is. And sometimes because we choose that position over and over we fail to capture the moment that matters to God, to others or even to ourselves. We fail to see the picture in all its potential and beauty. We miss the shot.

And then this whole thing about acting quickly. How quickly do you or does your church act when capturing that moment that truly matters? Or does the moment get sent to committee or ignored for the usual reasons of lack of money or peoplepower?

When I think of the Advent stories of Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary I see how they either captured the moment that mattered or failed to. Zechariah was in the right position to capture the moment with the angel but his doubts kept him from acting quickly enough to truly capture what mattered. Elizabeth and Mary found themselves in no position of consequence and yet because of their humble position they were able to move quickly and capture the essence of the moment that they would be the ones to deliver the good news.

Where do you find the Zechariah's, Elizabeth's and Mary's in your congregation, in yourself? How do you keep yourself positioned to capture the moment this Advent, this coming Christmas, this new year?