Over the weekend, I was honored to officiate a wedding for some dear friends. During their ceremony, I read a quote that I have likely shared on this blog — oh, 4 or 5 times now? It’s a perfect quote for a special occasion, and I’ve shared it for weddings, commencements, ordinations, milestone birthdays, and large life transitions. It’s from Frederick Buechner. He writes,
In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there will never be another just like it again. Today is the point to which all your yesterdays have been leading since the hour of your birth. It is the point from which all your tomorrows will proceed until the hour of your death. If you were aware of how precious today is, you could hardly live through it. Unless you are aware of how precious it is, you can hardly be said to be living at all. — Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark
This is a great quote for milestone days.
But also, Frederick Buechner didn’t write this about milestone days. His point is that every day — every single today — is this unique. Every day is a hinge moment. Every day is precious.
I was thinking of this all over again while riding my bike yesterday afternoon. I kept receiving the scent of honeysuckles in the air, as I zoomed by them or as the breeze met me. Why not this day, too? Why not this moment, too?
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 