“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
Maya Angelou
My first time visiting the Museum of Modern Art was on a whim.
I had been adventuring through Manhattan when I realized I was only a couple of blocks away from some of the most renowned art pieces in the world.
Pleasantly surprised, I walked up to the doors only to be greeted by a team member with a smile that said, Do you know what time it is? I didn’t. The greeter politely let me know I had 45 minutes to enjoy the museum before its closing.
Determined to enjoy the museum, I sped through each of the floors, only pausing momentarily to observe pieces that caught my eye. That day I was able to get a glimpse of all of the artwork – yet I still missed something. Something I wouldn’t understand until my next visit.
A year later, I journeyed back to MoMA. This time with hours to spare. As I strolled through the massive rooms I found myself pondering the nuanced details of the paintings, researching the artists behind them and taking time to soak in the experience.
As I did, it hit me.
Art is something you sip on.
Something you enjoy slowly.
Something you contemplate.
The blessings and achievements we experience are the same.
When we neglect to reflect on the successes we’ve enjoyed it’s like wandering through a gallery of our life's work without pausing to acknowledge the beauty of our experiences. It denies us the pleasure of recognizing how each struggle, triumph and blessing has acted like a brushstroke on the canvas of our personhood.
Remembering our progress, on the other hand, is a vital act of intentionality. It demands that we live not just for future outcomes, but in the full context of the timeline that is our lives.
This reflective practice is not about patting ourselves on the back. It’s about recognizing what God has given us the ability to do and understanding that each step forward is built upon those preceding them.
By reflecting on our achievements we allow them to become powerful artifacts on our journeys – representing not only how far we’ve come but how far God can take us. Thus, we recognize our triumphs as art to be remembered and treasured.
Connect
I’d love to hear about a blessing or triumph you’ve experienced.
If you’re up to sharing, leave a comment below or reply to this email.
Reads
Here are three pieces I truly enjoyed reading this week.
“I grew up terrified to be seen or heard by others. And so, I remember the first time I was put on the spot by a new teacher…”
“I still believe these words…and I believe they are for someone who needs to know their soft-spoken voice is speaking volumes…”
Is the Internet making me useless? by
“Presenting our lives is an industry in and of itself, commercialized by brands that benefit from the rate at which people consume our thoughts and daily routines.”
So much wisdom packed into such a short piece. Thank you for this, Jamal, and what you are doing here. I find I am always so future focused that it is easy to forget to pause and look back at where I've come and what I've learned. When I take the time to reflect, I am filled with gratitude.
Thank you for this. Sometimes we think about how far we have to go and not how far we came. Grateful for this reminder.