Okay, Misty gives me these hard things to write (I am not even going to think about a time constraint or word count. Blurb? How ‘bout blogette! So I got to thinking (dangerous, I know) and thought just what is meant by “a defining moment.”  

Here it is:

… a defining moment is a point when people look back and realize that it was at that specific moment in time when a change was made that positively impacted a life for good. It is not just another point on the daily measure of time; rather, it is a moment from which all future time is forever changed.  - adefiningmoment.net 

This could be a quick answer, or it could be one of great consideration.  I guess the obvious answer for many Christians (and myself) is salvation. That moment I surrendered my life to the Lord and accepted Him as my savior. Truly that was great and my life was forever changed. My master was changed from Satan to Jesus. My desires were different. My goals underwent a reworking. When a person becomes a new creature they cannot help but undergo a transformation that is mind-boggling.  

That is one of a few “moments” I want to recall that changed my life. I would like to look at some more. One was my twenty-fourth birthday. My wife woke me up early that morning and let me know her contractions had begun… Gregory Ryan Marcum. Need I say more? A child calls for maturity every day of your life.  Any child tends to bring rapid change as did my second son, Jason Allen Marcum. Just having a sibling for your oldest child to argue with has the potential to bring interesting change - “He touched me!” or “He is looking at me!” I probably don’t need to go on. You remember your children’s territorial disputes. I remember some of my own which shall slip into the fuzzy areas of my mind.  Just a side note, they were not all disputes and not that many.

 My first pastorate changed my life, as has each one along the way. The people who made up each church will always contribute to who I am. The joys and yes the heartaches will  forever cling to my synaptic areas. 

So all these I have mentioned, but are there more that I would call defining moments?  Well…My first car? Naw it was a VW bug. Did I mention it was an old VW? My first kiss? Maybe, if I could remember for sure who it was. (Am I that old?) My first paycheck? No, I spent it too soon. My first Bible? The first Bible I purchased was a World Bible with a zippered cover. Special, but I would not put it up there either. My first new car?  It was a time for younger thoughts – I’ve slowed down, but I still like red! Actually the car was a very defining moment in my life. Let me explain. 

A red Camaro! I was young, had a new job, and had ordered a new car. July 19, 1973  was the delivery date as I recall. LT version, 350 engine, automatic, etc. One hot car, if I must say so myself!  Looking back, my life was changed because I ordered that car.  So how did that change my life? Okay, here is the story: 

Diana Davis (the daughter of our interim pastor Hulon Davis at True Light Baptist Church)  had recently purchased a slightly less powerful version of the car I was waiting on. Of course she had purchased the wrong color (blue). The problem was, she was getting to drive hers, and mine had yet to be seen.  

So on the last night of Rev. Davis’ stint as TLBC’s pastor, they (him, his wife, and his daughter) were standing by the door shaking hands and saying goodbye to our church.  As I walk out I am jerked back around by a quick flick of the wrist by a feminine hand and queried rather forcefully (almost ended my professional baseball career in one stroke), “Did you get your car?”  

I looked around into a pair of piercing eyes and the brightest smile I had seen in a good  while. So I deftly answered, “No, not yet,” and left. Now, I don’t remember how all of it  shook out, but I got to thinking about that girl that was so interested in Camaros – or at least mine. Maybe I ought to ask her out. So, I got up the nerve (with a little help from friends) and asked her to let me take her home after church that night. She of course said, “No.” 
Well so much for that idea (not really). She claimed to have a good reason for not   accompanying me to her house. I did tell her I would bring my new car by when it  arrived if that was okay. 

Well I drove my car by her house and offered to take her for a ride in a Camaro (that was the right color). I know this story is getting too long.She accepted. I asked her out. We began dating. She asked me to marry her shortly after  and I said yes (at least that is how I remember it). You know the rest of the story. 

Now that was a defining moment -- When I ordered my Camaro. God used that one item to help draw my wife and I together. I am truly blessed. My life was changed forever. No  regrets (except I wish I had thought of asking her to marry me first).