I’ve just returned from the trip of a lifetime — Milan, Italy. Here I sit quietly with a cup of tea, reminiscing. I thought about journaling, so the memories would be preserved, but realized words aren’t going to do it. Some things must be experienced; not verbalized.

A verbal or written description of Italy’s natural beauty could never do her justice. Neither would a thousand words about her beautiful people, their enviable, relaxed lifestyle, and the pure, simple enjoyment of life their faces reveal. You would have to walk the steep, cobblestone streets with me. Smell the incomparable aroma of espresso beans being ground for the world’s best cappuccino. Share a small outdoor table with me and savor a vintage Merlot. Rest for a moment on a bench and breathe deeply. Take in as much beauty as possible, and agree with God that life is really good–especially in this moment. Again, some things can only be experienced.

I find that to be true in those very infrequent, yet sacred times with God. The divine connection. The holy resonance. Far beyond “deep calling to deep”. It’s actually deep being completely overtaken by Deep. By Deep’s reality. By Deep’s Presence. By Deep’s Bigness. By my smallness.

We try so hard to find words to describe such moments to a trusted friend. After all, something amazing and profound has just taken place, and we want so badly to share it. We grasp, grope, stutter, struggle, and work up a sweat…to no avail.

Some things can only be experienced.

The experience was meant to be personal! It was sacred, because it was between you and God. How did He know exactly what would cause your heart to melt? Or burst? Or take on new life? Or get you beyond the conflict? Or give you back your hope? Or calm your chaotic mind? Nobody knows you like Jesus.

That’s what makes the moment sacred.

Our son, Justin, earned his first vacation working for Halliburton in Iraq and met us in Milan. I’ve missed him so much. His fun-loving, everything-is-an-adventure kind of temperament is the perfect balance to my intensity. Without solicitation. Without introduction. With no relation to any context whatsoever, he leans back in his chair, looks at me with those gorgeous eyes, and says, “Mom, I love with more than anything.”

Italy was magical. The trip was near perfect. But that second with my son was the highlight of the entire week for me.

It’s not like I haven’t heard that before. Justin and I are very close, and words of affection are common between us. But this time it was different. No, it wasn’t God using Justin to tell me that God loves me — though that might be the obvious explanation as to the impact it had. It was God, who knows Lyn better than anybody, giving her what would touch her the most at that moment. That’s what turned it from ordinary to sacred.

I’ve come to believe those moments are available to us every day. We just have to become aware of them. Slow down. Take notice. Enjoy the now.

May God give us the grace to step into those sacred moments. The grace to savor them. To value them.

And most of all, to be transformed by them.