I've had my moments ...

Have you ever heard the song Moments by Emerson? I used to listen to the words and wonder ... have I had my moments?

"Moments"

I was coming to the end of a long, long walk
When a man crawled out of a cardboard box
Under the E. Street Bridge
Followed me on to it
I went out halfway across
With that homeless shadow tagging along
So I dug for some change
Wouldn't need it anyway
He took it lookin' just a bit ashamed
He said, You know, I haven't always been this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that plane ride coming home from the war
That summer my son was born
And memories like a coat so warm
A cold wind can't get through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I stood there tryin' to find my nerve
Wondering if a single soul on Earth
Would care at all
Miss me when I'm gone
That old man just kept hanging around
Lookin' at me, lookin' down
I think he recognized
That look in my eyes
Standing with him there I felt ashamed
I said, You know, I haven't always been this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like the day I walked away from the wine
For a woman who became my wife
And a love that, when it was right,
Could always see me through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I know somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight
That old man tells his story one more time
He says

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that cool night on the E. Street Bridge
When a young man almost ended it
I was right there, wasn't scared a bit
And I helped to pull him through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
Oh, lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I've had my moments
I've had my moments
I've had my moments

 

I always wanted to do something ... grand. Something big, and important. I think we all feel that way at times.And I always felt that I had failed. I hadn't had my moments, I hadn't ever done anything that would ever matter. Today, though, I realized something. I think I have them more than I ever knew before. 

Every time I run two miles without stopping, even though the whole time, I want to quit. 

Every time I reach another thousand words while writing. 

Every time I don't snap at someone when I'm upset. 

Every time I smile at a customer when we're three hours behind closing at work. 

Every time actually practice dance on my own. 

Every time I concentrate on my scripture study and really learn. 

Every time I do something hard, even though it's small, that's a victory for me. Usually, no one knows about it. In fact, my biggest triumphs happen when I'm completely alone. I will never get a medal or receive applause or become famous by doing any of these things. But that's not why I do them; I don't want that, because then, it wouldn't be as true a victory for me. When I do these hard things, just for me and no one else, just because it's hard, that's when it's my moment. 

So yeah, I've had my moments.