Yesterday, as I watched the news unfolding about the tragedy at Notre Dame, I was transported back to when I visited. I was lucky enough to be afforded the opportunity to live in Europe while in the Air Force. I took advantage of the tremendous travel opportunities every chance I got. I remember the first time I went to Paris. I hit a lot of the normal tourist spots and indulged in the food. I had a great time visiting the Eiffel Tower, but I was truly awestruck by the Notre-Dame de Paris.
For me, there is something about visiting historical places that makes for a transcendent experience. This is especially true of old cathedrals or places of worship that I have visited. Some may think it is ironic because I am not especially religious, but I don’t think so. These places where people have gathered for religious celebrations for hundreds of years have been a big part of countless lives. They are places where I, when I visit, spend time pondering my place in the universe and thinking about the countless others who have done that same thing in that same place. Notre-Dame was one of the most magnificent of these places that I had ever visited.
As I, along with the rest of the world, watched helplessly while this sacred piece of human history was engulfed by flames, I thought about how lucky I was to have seen it in person all those years ago. Then, I was suddenly saddened because I thought about how, if the cathedral were completely destroyed, my children may never have the same opportunity. This, in turn, led to my thinking about things that I still want to do, places I still want to visit, and people I want to see while there is still time.
The truth is, though, that we never really know how much time there is. Our lives are constantly busy. Work, school, appointments, and other obligations seem to steal time away at an alarming rate. Money is another thing that always seems to be in short supply. We never have enough time or money to do the things we want, so we make “bucket lists” and say “Maybe someday…”
The problem with saying “maybe someday…” is that sometimes, someday never comes. Think about it like this: If tomorrow one of your dreams was suddenly unattainable because tragedy struck, would you be left thinking, “I would gladly give up a week of work or pay $1,000 to be able to do this.”? If so, why are you putting that dream off now?
“People wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.”-Unknown
Oftentimes we get stuck in the rat race of modern life. Lifestyle creep, consumer debt, and keeping up with the Joneses are killing us. We always think we have no money or time to pursue our dreams. In most cases, we actually have the money and the time. We just aren’t using it wisely. This is why we have begun living intentionally in our household. We are aggressively attacking our debt and being more deliberate with spending. More importantly, though, we are being more deliberate with our time. It has allowed us to reprioritize our lives and it is liberating in a way I cannot put into words.
I was lucky to have seen firsthand Notre-Dame all those years ago. I hope that one day it will be fully restored, and my children can have that same opportunity. In the meantime, though, we will continue to teach our children the importance of prioritizing relationships and experiences over things. It has been said, “People wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.” Don’t let life get in the way of your dreams. If something is important then make it a priority now.