The time chooses you

This week, I finished reading A Promised Land — an intimate & introspective memoir by President Barack Obama on the first two years of his presidency.

Fitting enough, I’m visiting Chicago this weekend — where Obama started as a lawyer + organizer and continued his climb to the highest office.

I thoroughly enjoyed his reflections in his book — how emotions and logic underscored his thinking, how the pressure of the job affected his family, and how difficult it was to navigate a petulant political climate.

One of my favorite passages was early in the book. Obama was struggling with the decision of running for President. Senator Ted Kennedy shares a thought with him that changes the course of history:

”But you don’t choose the time. The time chooses you. Either you seize what may turn out to be the only chance you have, or you decide you’re willing to live with the knowledge that the chance has passed you by.”

There will be a handful of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that arrive at our doorstep. I pray we all have the strength & boldness to recognize it and take the shot!