Ok. I said it. I didn’t want to like this book. I couldn’t imagine how I would relate to it or what someone else could possibly say about how I should chase my dreams or live my life. I didn’t WANT someone else to tell me how to live my life, and I certainly didn’t expect to relate to any of the stories.
Well.
Ahem.
I don’t know Carlos Whittaker in real life like I do some of the other authors I’ve read recently. I follow him on social media and I’ve seen him lead worship at the Youth Workers Convention in Nashville. I know he’s talented, has a family that has gone viral on YouTube, and has a beautiful wife. I don’t read his blog but I know he has one.
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So when Moment Maker arrived in the mail for a review, I read it hesitantly. I really didn’t want this dude telling me how to live my life or making me feel badly for not creating more amazing moments for my family. And he didn’t. As each page turned I discovered that Carlos Whittaker is a fabulous storyteller – a writer who weaves authentic, every day, ordinary moments together with Scripture and life lessons to encourage the reader to live life intentionally. It’s not about forcing Pinterest-perfect moments into our lives so we can show them off online, but about taking time to pause and embrace all of the moments life brings.
As a mother, I related to the stories he shared about creating moments for his daughters. The doubt, the trial & error, laughter, the risk and how it changed all of their lives hit a place in my heart that desires to give my own daughter those moments that will never happen if we stay forever in front of a screen.
“It’s not about making a moment that stands out and is spectacular. It’s about making some feel valued through that moment.”
“When we forget to pause we don’t make room for things to catch up to us. We can’t let the best ideas rise to the surface.”
As a wife, I realized that my husband and I need to work together as a team to live attentive lives, to pause when moment making ideas are suggested, and do what works for our family with the abilities God has given us.
“The experiences you have, the moments you create, should leave a mark on the world and you. They should change everyone who is touched by them for the better.”
As someone who has the occasional opportunity to attend conferences and use this blog as my ministry and share God’s truth, I was reminded that it’s not simply showing up that matters. It’s interacting, hugging, shaking hands, laughing and taking the time to be more than just the exclamation point – it’s about being the whole sentence (that line will make a lot of sense if you read the book, I promise).
“All it takes is that moment of decision where you allow Christ to be the one who defines your ability, not you. Because we know all things are possible through Christ alone.”
I didn’t want to like this book. But I did – and I’m grateful for the reminder to live authentically, intentionally, and attentively – to savor life and all the moments that come with it.
