I walk into the grand rotunda, immediately assaulted with a life-size elephant statue that makes me feel like I am on safari in Africa. However, I’m not in Africa. I’m in the Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History. I walk around to the other side of the massive beast and take in the details: the tusks, the hard, leathery skin, and ears that look like they could take flight.
Then I look away from the large creature and notice the architecture of the walls. The white marble building blocks and the ornate railings amaze me. The precision of the architecture extends all the way up into the rotunda ceiling. When I finally exit that room and enter the next room on the left, I see even more life-size statues of mammals: lions, tigers, giraffes, and hippos.
Animals from Africa, Australia, and South America lurk throughout the massive building. Then there are displays of creatures from the depths of the ocean as well. As you look up, you are able to walk underneath of a whale.
Details are everywhere! And this is only the first floor!
When I walk through a museum, I don’t typically race through it. I meander through it. I notice things. Living life with intention is similar. Sometimes I can focus so much on where I’m going that I don’t notice the details and steps along the way that get me there. The details and steps are what life is really about. I want to enjoy those steps, not just get through them.
Noticing the things, and even more importantly, the people that are all around me at any given moment are some of the best parts of life. These three steps will help you to notice the multiple details that surround you:
- Pay Attention to Those Details
In a museum, I look up, down, left, and right so that I don’t miss anything. I pay attention to sign plates. I am learning all of the time.
In life too, I need to look up, down, left, and right so I see everything and everyone that is around me. Looking all around is not just for crossing streets. Focus is for noticing people and things, some of which I may not have noticed before when I was in a hurry.
2. Take One Moment at a Time
In a museum, I usually linger for as long as I want at the things that really catch my attention. I’m not as worried about the next thing as I am about really savoring the present thing. One exception would be if the museum is about to close and I want to see as much as I can before then.
Life can sometimes be about getting to an appointment, a meeting, meeting a goal, or any other type of destination. Nevertheless, I shouldn’t let those things be the only things. I feel that God sometimes wants to bring things into my life that I didn’t schedule. Moments like that can happen when I linger for a moment.
- Never Lose Your Awe and Wonder
In a museum, I see new things and learn new things all of the time. It’s easy to be humbled by all of the many facts and details that I did not know.
Life is a humbling experience as well or at least it should be. I need to always remember that I don’t know it all and never will. There is always something more to learn. Millions of stars are over my head at night. Weather patterns are always changing. Even my body has millions of intricacies that allow me to live, breathe, and function in the atmosphere of the earth. Miracles are everywhere; watch for them.
I desire to walk through life, taking in all of the immense details. I want to wonder about how things work and how they are made. Taking different roads sometimes and even getting lost on purpose at other times just so I can see something different.
Most of all, I want to look into people’s faces and ask how they are. I won’t necessarily stop when they say a brief fine. I want to hear more about what their fine means. Are they in a hurry? If so, I won’t hold them up but if they just said fine out of habit and they really aren’t fine, I just might be able to help. I may be able to offer a new perspective, a helping hand, or just a shoulder to lean on.
Paying attention makes the journey of life more special and memorable.
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. ~ Colossians 3:17