Where Are Your Batteries?

As I shared in my last post I was able to make a check on my bucket list by experiencing the Kite Festival. One of the "plans" for the day was to take some photos. See I have not had my good camera out for going over two years. In fact 2 years ago at Christmas my daughter gave me a beautiful backpack camera case, when I moved it to my new home it was covered in a big ol layer of dust, yep that got used a lot...not. So I promised myself I would get it out, use it and have been thinking of taking some classes.

When we were discussing going to the kite festival I knew I was going to take my camera and have some fun. I made sure the batteries were charged and ready to go. I was on top of my game. So you can just imagine my disappointment when my camera would not turn on, neither of them. I kept going through my mind of how this had possibly happened. I remember charging them, unplugging them and I could have swore I tested them, I remember seeing the screens on. I was bummed.

After the extra effort of lugging it to the vehicle, loading my bag with "necessities"...sunglasses, eyeglasses, cash, lugging it on the walk to get to the kites ... yes I was thinking "this is not the way today was to go". I had to make a choice right then...would I allow this to dampen my day? Or am I going to put it in a pink bubble and blow it away? Let me tell you, that bubble was flying higher than the kites. I was not letting anything get in the way of experiencing this event. Even if it meant I would not be going home with the pictures I was planning on capturing.

As I said before the day was perfect... it didn't take long to totally forgot about the camera incident, I had my phone, I used that camera and everything was fine. Yet when I got back into the truck I just had to pull them out and look, they both looked fine just wouldn't turn on, neither of them. What are the chances? Something made me investigate my bag a bit further... well there was the charger and guess what? The battery was still attached to it, both of them were. I could not believe it, I truly saw a visual of me turning them on back home...must have been a visual from another place and time.

Now I have to tell you ... there was a time in my life where this would not have been the result, I would have gotten mad at myself, sulked around, sure that that one small event would just destroy everything I wanted to experience that day. I wouldn't have witnessed the clear beautiful sky, the beautiful sights and enjoyed the company because I would have been to wrapped up in being angry.

This was a great reminder for me, it was a testament to how much I have grown and am learning to let things go...putting them in a pink bubble if I may... Every day we are given choices, multiple times a day... choosing who and what will control our days. The enemy loves to mess us up and then tell us to be upset and angry, with ourselves or someone who did something that literally will not effect us an hour from now let alone a year from now. Don't give in to disappointment or not being perfect, there has and there only will be one perfect person in life...and he died on a cross giving us the ability to receive grace for not just ourselves but everyone we encounter as well. Time to lay down the "perfection" card.

Learning to distinguish between the events that are really going to effect our day, letting things go that will have no bearing on our lives a year from now. Experience the moment even if it wasn't how we thought it should look, it turned out the way it was meant to be. Live in the moment and make memories.... So often, for me, I am looking so hard and intently for that next great picture I totally miss everything else around me that I could be experiencing.

The batteries not being in the camera and me not even bothering to double check...well that was a true blessing. I was so in the moment, enjoying and witnessing everything there was to see. For this experience and I pray many more to come...no batteries required.

Go out today and live boldly, bravely, brilliantly and blessed!