It's strange really the way events can bring life into perspective. I woke up this morning and was watching the news only to discover that the 5-year-old daughter of one of my favorite singers, Steven Curtis Chapman, had been killed in a horrific accident yesterday afternoon in the driveway of their home (www.stevencurtischapman.com). I'm sure many of you are familiar with this popular singer, but for those of you who aren't, he is one of the true pioneers of contemporary Christian music, and was instrumental in drawing me in to this genre at a time when I had really decided Christian music was irrelevant and unappealing. Not only is his musical gift inspiring, he has also been a voice for the past several years in the realm of foreign adoption, having begun a foundation (www.shaohannahshope.org) to help defray expenses for those pursuing this path for creating family.

Life truly moves so very quickly. Days come and go, kids grow up - we do our work, enjoy some free time (not enough), and way too often miss completely all of the little wonderful things that make life so amazing. I can't even begin to put myself in the shoes of the Chapman family today. The very idea of it brings immediate tears to my eyes and makes me want to run to my children and hold onto them. The thing is, though, that holding them doesn't guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to them - and I'm reminded so vividly that none of us really have anything more than just the moments right in front of us, and even those can be tenuous at times.

I'm sorry to sound so philosophical and melancholy, and please know that I certainly realize that unthinkable things happen to people every day....just not always to those who are so visible in a public way. I only hope that I can do my best to not waste any time overthinking the future or spending too much time remembering the past with rosy glasses, and try instead to relish this gift of now that I have been given --- because it truly is a gift.