Right Under Your Nose

Jesus said; "But of that day or hour no one knows... What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’"
— Mark 13:32-37

It was a night that would be like none other in our life.

Most people slept despite the news of this once in a lifetime event. The media had been talking about it for days—in fact students of the night sky had known for many years that this night would be unique.


But for most of the people it was just another night after a long day’s work. Just another night to prepare for just another day.

They missed the wondrous thing that happened right under their noses. Sleep was their companion, not awe and wonder. While this is almost exactly what the people did that Christmas eve so long ago, the interesting thing is that this happened just last week!

The eclipse of the full moon happened on the night of the Winter Solstice. The last time this happened was in 1638...not many of us were around then! Between 1:30 and 4:00 am the earth’s shadow transformed the brilliant moon into an amber ‘reddish’ hue, muted but still visible as the ‘umbra’ transited the lunar terrain.

Some got up to experience this amazing event. Others decided to see history on the news the next morning and probably had better pictures than the night watchers. But the night watchers were there. They were experiencing the present moment, feeling the cold of the night air and its dewey dampness, and being part of a lifetime event. They were being present to what was right under their noses.

Every day you and I have the opportunity to be present to the life time events that happen right under our noses. "Once in a life time" events happen for each patient or family member, they come and ask you and me to be present to their journey and needs.

You have the choice to be present, to be with them, to be part of their history. If you do, I know they will be different because of your care, and I know that you will be enriched because you were part of their history.