Published: October 22, 2009 03:02 pm      

Once in a lifetime

John Paul Carter, Democrat Columnist

The other day I saw an article in the travel section of a newspaper describing a cruise to some exotic destination. The bold headline read, “Once in a Lifetime.”

For some reason, I pondered the headline’s meaning. Maybe it was like a trip into space — a rare, never to be repeated event. Was the ship to sail to this destination only this one time? Did it mean passengers would not be allowed to repeat the cruise in the future? Maybe it was so expensive, someone like me couldn’t afford to go again.

A “once in a lifetime” experience sounds like a treasure to be sought after — something you could proudly tell your children and grandchildren about in years to come. What would we do for such an opportunity? How much would we pay?

I thought back to some of those unique events in my life — sailing to Great Britain on the original Queen Elizabeth, being addressed in the Rose Garden by President Johnson, visiting the Holy Land. I also remembered some darker, heartbreaking experiences — glad that they were only one-time occurrences.

Then it dawned on me, all our experiences are “once in a lifetime.” No matter how similar, no two events are exactly the same. The context is constantly changing. The mix is never exactly the same as the river of life flows on. There will never be another moment exactly like this one, here and now.

When we look at a new day as a repeat performance of the same old thing, we miss its splendor and opportunities. Rather than being filled with wonder and curiosity, we fall prey to boredom and despair. A wise man once said, “Each day is virgin.”

In Thornton Wilder’s play, “Our Town,” Emily has prematurely joined the dead in the cemetery on the hill overlooking Grover’s Corners, her hometown. Against the advice of the other dead, she asked to go back to observe her 12th birthday. She returned quickly with a new appreciation for the uniqueness and preciousness of each moment of life.

“We don’t have time to look at one another,” Emily sobs to the stage manager. “I didn’t realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed ... Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners ... Mama and Papa. Good-by, to clocks ticking ... and Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths ... and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? — every, every minute?”

The Psalmist reminds us: “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It’s a once in a lifetime experience!

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John Paul Carter’s “Notes from the Journey” appear in the Democrat’s Religion page on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. Carter, an ordained minister who attends Central Christian Church, may be contacted by writing him at 107 Bent Oak Road, Weatherford, 76086.