In that moment of excitement, I did what seemed important. I was wrong. Boy was I dead wrong. And yes, I did hear about it. Not so much in complaints or comments. In looks and in silence, I heard about it. At times silence and looks can scream. In this situation, the sound was deafening.I've learned a little more about what is interesting and what is important.
Our family went to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple open house on Friday night. It was a marvelous experience. Beautiful architecture, immaculate interior and peaceful feelings. The grandchildren were all in awe and the experience was memorable. Each of us found beauty and peace of sort in our temple visit. Nice to have family with us to enjoy it.
On our way out it was raining dramatically. A down pour. With refreshment eaten and some visiting winding down we when outside in a sprinkle. Then we saw it. Wow, only one other time had I seen such a powerful image. The sun was perfectly placed and a strong brilliant rainbow was before us. From our vantage point on the temple grounds we could see this breath taking sight.
The last time I saw such a site I did not have my camera so I missed capturing it. I was going to get this sight. I jogged ahead noticing the light was ever changing and there was a chance the brilliance of this moment just might fade. I might miss it.
At the car I unlocked the trunk grabbed the camera only to have it get stuck in the bag. I tugged and it finally came free. I've got to get this shot. It is important to capture such a marvel that happens so rarely. Perfect light. Even stronger now. Full double rainbows. Yes. This is going to happen. I closed the trunk and readied the camera. I got a shot or two with the rainbow by the Jordan River Temple near it's end.
If I go a few yards to the right I wonder if the rainbow will be situated exactly over the Jordan River Temple. Just as I start to move I hear cries from the girls. The rain is intensifying and they want to get in the car. I start toward the car reaching for the keys to unlock the doors.... "The keys...." "Not in that pocket...." "maybe..." "Oh man, where can they be?" My mind raced. As I look up to see my wife and daughter getting wetter by the moment.
I had to confess I did not have the keys. Then reality set in. While I was involved in what seemed to be an important activity to me I had neglected a far more important matter. The keys were locked in the car. IN THE TRUNK! There was laughing, crying, looks and silence. Nothing we could do. It was done.
Perspectives change in a moment sometimes in life. So, it did for me at that moment. Pictures were not nearly so important anymore(though I did take a few more). Attention change to the really important matter of getting the problem solved and taking care of our transportation needs.
What is IMPORTANT so often seems so clear until we get a little different perspective. We always need to take care of the really important stuff while we participate in the interesting kinds of "important" actives.
The matter was solved by my driving an hour round trip to home and back to pick up the spare key. After all the screaming looks and yelling silence were past we had a good laugh as we got home hours beyond our plans.
We did something important. We stuck together. Solved the problem and now have something to look back on. Indeed going through the temple open house was memorable and now it is fixed with emotion and memories of what is really important in life.
Oh and the pictures turned out OK too.
