This morning on CBC’s “The Current” they did an item on defining moments in Canadian memory. This was, of course, triggered by Sidney Crosby’s great goal on Sunday afternoon. His reflex action fired the puck into the net and secured the gold medal for Canada’s Men’s Hockey team. Canada cheered!

It is a fun game we play- “Where were you when…”. But the whole conversation made me do some thinking about defining moments in faith journeys. Born-again Christians often point to the moment their life turned around. They talk about “finding Christ” or “accepting Jesus” or “being converted to Christ”. For many of us in The United Church this is not language we are comfortable with. We have a more liberal understanding of faith and ours does not often include this kind of dramatic turning point. In fact, some of us dismiss it when others speak of it. That said, even we liberals can often point to moments when we felt confirmed by God and we can name experiences when our faith journey deepened.

I can think of several moments when I felt the presence of God in a profound way. Sometimes when I have been by myself in prayer or reflection; other times it has been when I have been with others. Sometimes it happens in a worship service other times it is a flash of spiritual connection when I am just doing what I am doing. One moment that quickly springs to mind was at the time of my mom’s death. She died at home after a fairly brief illness. Our family was all there and as we sat around her bed she just kind of slipped from this world to the next. It was peaceful and beautiful and I felt the presence of something holy. Another time was when Carl and I were in Hawaii. We had been out hiking and we rounded a bend in the path and saw before us the most beautiful bay with red sand. The ocean waves pounded around the edge but the water in the cove was calm and still gently lapping the beach. It was stunningly beautiful. It took my breath away and it lifted me beyond myself to the wonder and mystery of something greater than we two standing on the beach.

Defining faith moments are often experienced in the outdoors as we experience creation but I have also been moved to tears when I hear the collection of voices in a congregation singing in faith a loved hymn that has been sung with faith for generations. That simple act of worship is profound.

What have been the defining moments for you in your faith journey?  When have you experiences God in a way that changed your life?