The Power of A Moment

“Sometimes the slightest things change the directions of our lives, the merest breath of a circumstance, a random moment that connects like a meteorite striking the earth. Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark.” ~ Bryce Courtenay

Courtenay is the author of one of my favorite books, The Power of One, a story about the difference one little boy can make against the bonds of apartheid in South Africa, but also about the power of people coming together as one. I’ll be writing a book review post on it one of these days.

This quote is more about the power of one moment, one remark, possibly even a single word, to change the direction of someone’s life. We really have no way of knowing for sure how something we say or do will impact those who around us; or even who may be listening.



This photo is by Yuichiro Miyano, titled “Step by Step.” I found it on a blog called “The Lost Promenade,” and it makes me wonder what she’s thinking about, how she’s feeling. What breath of a circumstance or random moment just collided with her life? Will this one moment on the dock change everything?

I might write a story about her, and use this quote as a guide. Does she sit on the end of the dock and let her feet hang over? Does she jump off and sink to the bottom, or float away with the tide? Who is the last person she spoke to, and what was said? What’s her name?

I was just talking to a friend online about leaving a legacy. She said she hasn’t figured out how she’ll leave her mark on history; she doesn’t have any children, so who will remember her when she’s gone? It’s both awe-inspiring and completely terrifying to think about how much our lives affect others in ways we can’t even fathom. Something as simple and automatic as a smile could change the world for someone. Something as innocent as a spoken word could destroy it….