Minutes and Moments

A good friend of mine once urged me to look for "m&ms"—micro moments—in my life. Another friend taught me that life is made up of moments, not minutes.

What's the difference between a minute and a moment? A minute is concerned with busyness—getting ready for the day, filling out a schedule, creating a status update, rushing to an appointment, rushing from an appointment.

"In our search to obtain relief from the
stresses of life, may we earnestly seek
ways to simplify our lives."

 

Frantic. Stressed. Busy. Rushed. That's what comes to mind when I think of a minute.

A moment is something special—meditating on a park bench, experiencing a "light bulb" moment, finding revelation in the scriptures, holding a newborn baby, speaking unspoken messages of understanding with your eyes.

Quiet. Serene. Unhurried. Simple. That's what comes to mind when I think of a moment.

When I'm an old man telling old stories to my young grandchildren, do you think I'll bother them much with odes and tales of minutes? Of course not! Minutes don't matter much unless you're shopping for a cell phone.

Instead, I'll tell them of moments—moments when I felt joy, moments when I passed through sorrow, moments when I failed, moments when I succeeded, moments when I laughed, and moments when I cried.

The Savior's life was full of moments. How do I know? Take a look at these scriptures—

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (Mark 5:34)

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11:15)

No busyness there. No hustling and bustling and rushing to get to a destination. Only love and concern for the one—each one—of the people He knew and served and for us. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained—

I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.

In a world where it is easy to be a waster of minutes, it is helpful to learn from Jesus Christ, the master of moments. What are you doing to share precious moments with those you love? 

MORE ONLINE
Of Things That Matter Most, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Good, Better, Best, Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Let Him Do It with Simplicity, Elder L. Tom Perry