Defining Moments

While in Europe last week speaking at the Vision 09 Leadership Conference I had the opportunity to see some sights and take in some of the rich history that surrounds this unique part of the world.

One of the sights we visited was The Pilgrimage Church of St. John in Zelena Hora. The church itself is around 400 years old and dedicated to one of its former priests, but it is the unique decorations that hold the story and our moment of truth for this week.

In the very top of the dome in the center of the church is an ornate and elaborate design surrounding a big red tongue…..yes you read right, a huge red TONGUE! Obviously I was fascinated, I mean really, it isn’t everyday you get to see an 8 foot tongue.

The legend says that this priest, St. John was counseling with the queen of the nation when she divulged a secret to him that could have cost her everything including her life. The King hears that she has been confiding in the priest and demands that he relinquish the information but the priest refuses citing his responsibility as a man of God to those he serves. Consequently, the king has him tortured, killed and thrown off the Charles bridge in downtown Prague. The tongue in the church is accompanied by the words written in Czech, “I kept silent.”

As I heard the story and stared at the huge tongue a thought kept running through my mind. This man probably did a lot of other good things in his life and ministry, there was no doubt many other stories that could have been shared about his life and yet here we stand staring at this monster tongue all because this particular incident was a DEFINING MOMENT IN HIS LIFE.

The great difficulty with defining moments is that you don’t get to choose them, THEY choose you. You cannot control when they will come. However, you can choose how you will handle them when they come.

Defining moments are intersections in life that give us an opportunity to turn, change direction, and seek a new destination. The defining moments of my life have determined who I have become. Take away even one of them – good or bad – and I would not be the same person. And the defining moments that lie before me will continue to shape and mold my leadership and life.

As always I never really know who I am speaking or writing specifically for, I write what’s in my spirit and pray it finds its proper place in the hearts where it is needed the most. Let me share with you three things about defining moments and why they are important.

1.- DEFINING MOMENTS SHOW US WHO WE REALLY ARE- Defining moments are incredibly important because they help us to see the difference between who we THINK we are and who we TRULY are.

The only way to test the true health of a heart is with a stress test. Doctors do not measure a hearts health by how it performs in relaxed conditions. They determine its true health by how it performs under pressure. Moments where we are facing a personal failure, taking a stand on an issue or experiencing great trepidation or suffering show us what we are really made of.

2.- DEFINING MOMENTS DECLARE TO OTHERS WHO WE ARE- If we are honest, most days we can wear masks and hide who we are from the people around us. During defining moments, we can’t do that. In those moments our reaction is a revelation to others of who we really are.

Handled well, a defining moment can cement relationships but handled poorly, a defining moment can destroy credibility.

3.- DEFINING MOMENTS OFTEN DETERMINE WHO WE WILL BECOME- You will never be the same person after a truly defining moment. Somehow and in some way you will be moved. It may be forward, or it may be backward but make no mistake you will be moved. Why is that?
Because defining moments are not normal, and what’s “normal” doesn’t work in those times.

Our response in defining moments puts us on a new path, and that path will define who we will become in the future. How about you? Can you recall some defining moments? Are you in one now?

Take 20 seconds and share a thought about this moment of truth and tell me if any of it rings true with you.

I’ll see you next week, peace.

All for Christ,
J. Mark