Choir Notes

Turning Points
From Music and the Spoken Word
Delivered by: Lloyd D. Newell • Program 4161

Life is a series of turning points. Some are gradual and almost imperceptible, except in hindsight. Others are abrupt and jarring. But either way, the longer we live, the more we realize that life is not a straight line—it’s full of pivotal moments that redirect and refocus our lives.

Graduating from school, starting a new job, or moving to a different community are changes that we prepare for and even look forward to. Major life events, like getting married and starting a family, can invite growth and learning in a way that nothing else can. Even unexpected turning points, disappointments and heartaches, can—in time—enlarge our joys and deepen our affections.

A man battling a grave medical diagnosis learned that such turning points can also be filled with tender mercies. In his turmoil, he was reminded of the love of family and friends; in his agony, he felt more profoundly the need for heaven’s help and the presence of divinity in his life; in his worry, he found and felt a deep reservoir of hope and an inner core of strength. His battle is far from over, but he has already learned some personal lessons that, he says, will forever stay with him. Yes, his health took a turn for the worse, but his illness has also served as a turning point in his life and in the lives of his loved ones.

Chances are that many of us, right now, feel the hinges of life pointing us in a new direction. Some of those turns may be wonderful and welcome; some may be moments for which we have long prepared; others may be unforeseen blessings or even heart-wrenching difficulties that demand more from us than we ever thought we could give. If we open our hearts to the positive changes they invite, life’s turning points can help us find purpose and bring us closer to the people and things that matter most.