After almost a year of not writting here Iam again...
Over the last couple of days some situations have occurred that have really tested my trust in friends and family. I have wrestled with it and don't know that I'm any closer to a resolution than I was a day before, but discussing this matter with the involved parties has really made me think about the emotions that stem from dilemmas like these and how to resolve them. Most of them are not good.
Taking a side step... we live in a 'Free' country, but as we see desicions being made for us left and right, it makes me wonder what freedom really is and is it perhaps over-ratted in America. People die for it, yet what is it? To often we seek freedom to mak our own choices, but do we really know what is best for us?
Back t the present... As I sought God in this matter, He reminded me of the discussion of Freedom that I often have at work. He show me what really binds us. It's not government, shakles or masters over us. It's fear, bitterness and hatred that binds us! How often do we go through a day dwelling on any one of those three? Freedom is faith, forgiveness and love.
God help me live in freedom each day of my life!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Journey Vs. The Destination
Not too long ago my colleagues and I were reminiscing about childhood events and accomplishments. Besides going on crazy adventurous walks across the Negev desert in Israel, mine revolved around collecting cards or stickers. I recall one particular sticker c0llection I collected. It was a sticker album about the Native Americans and their history. It had empty spots to place 400 different stickers which could be bought in packs of 5 just like baseball cards today. The album was about the Native Americans and their history. The history of Native Americans fascinated me back when I was living in Israel and I remember laboriously reading the Hebrew text next to each picture trying to figure out what the picture was about. I had only been learning Hebrew for about 2 years at that point, so it was a real chore for me to read and understand the text in the album. I remember the day I collected sticker number 16, the last sticker I needed to complete my album. Whew! I finally collected all 400 stickers. Oh the joy!
Well, years later, I remember the experience, but sadly I no longer had the album. A thought hit me; I wonder if it could be on eBay. I did some research and discovered it was called 'West'. After a couple of months of searching, I found an empty English album (better than a Hebrew one as I’d have great difficulty reading it now) at a book site and a completed French and Dutch album on eBay. I got them both of them as presents from my family - lucky me! As I leafed through the album I kept thinking: 'I remember that picture', or 'I remember getting that card'. What also hit me was the thought that although the artwork was spectacular, there was still something missing. I mulled over it and I discovered that receiving a completed album was nowhere near as satisfying as collecting the individual cards yourself and trading for them and then being able to finally say ‘Whew, I’m finally done’! Don’t get me wrong, I love the album and it is great getting a childhood memory back, but it made me realize something; sometimes the destination is not always what it’s made out to be.
As I mulled over it I thought about my life now and my final destination. What if heaven, in its entire wonderful splendor, is not all it’s made out to be? What if our journey, here on Earth, is a part of the experience we have in Heaven? Again, don’t get me wrong, I can not wait to be in the presence of God – forever. It’s just that I now wonder if I would be as satisfied if I arrived in Heaven without experiencing life and having the opportunity to learn to love others, learn to communicate better with others, learn to overcome my fears and step off the edge and trust God to catch me. My suspicion is that I wouldn’t be. Of course one will never be able to compare the two (unless you die really young and God resurrects you life and you die again), so I don’t think one who has had less time to experience life than I have will arrive in Heaven and say, ‘bummer, I didn’t experience as much as Michael did. Not fair!’ I think both of us will be equally excited to be in the presence of God. I’m just realizing that I shouldn’t be so eager to arrive in Heaven, but rather be asking God, ‘What amazing journey and experiences do You have in store for me, here on Earth, before I arrive at my final destination? How can God use me to bless others to enhance both my experience and theirs?
I challenge you, do not be so eager to get to heaven, but rather enjoy every moment you have here on Earth, learn everything you can learn. At the same time, look forward to Jesus’ glorious return and to a day where we will be able to celebrate God in His presence.
Well, years later, I remember the experience, but sadly I no longer had the album. A thought hit me; I wonder if it could be on eBay. I did some research and discovered it was called 'West'. After a couple of months of searching, I found an empty English album (better than a Hebrew one as I’d have great difficulty reading it now) at a book site and a completed French and Dutch album on eBay. I got them both of them as presents from my family - lucky me! As I leafed through the album I kept thinking: 'I remember that picture', or 'I remember getting that card'. What also hit me was the thought that although the artwork was spectacular, there was still something missing. I mulled over it and I discovered that receiving a completed album was nowhere near as satisfying as collecting the individual cards yourself and trading for them and then being able to finally say ‘Whew, I’m finally done’! Don’t get me wrong, I love the album and it is great getting a childhood memory back, but it made me realize something; sometimes the destination is not always what it’s made out to be.
As I mulled over it I thought about my life now and my final destination. What if heaven, in its entire wonderful splendor, is not all it’s made out to be? What if our journey, here on Earth, is a part of the experience we have in Heaven? Again, don’t get me wrong, I can not wait to be in the presence of God – forever. It’s just that I now wonder if I would be as satisfied if I arrived in Heaven without experiencing life and having the opportunity to learn to love others, learn to communicate better with others, learn to overcome my fears and step off the edge and trust God to catch me. My suspicion is that I wouldn’t be. Of course one will never be able to compare the two (unless you die really young and God resurrects you life and you die again), so I don’t think one who has had less time to experience life than I have will arrive in Heaven and say, ‘bummer, I didn’t experience as much as Michael did. Not fair!’ I think both of us will be equally excited to be in the presence of God. I’m just realizing that I shouldn’t be so eager to arrive in Heaven, but rather be asking God, ‘What amazing journey and experiences do You have in store for me, here on Earth, before I arrive at my final destination? How can God use me to bless others to enhance both my experience and theirs?
I challenge you, do not be so eager to get to heaven, but rather enjoy every moment you have here on Earth, learn everything you can learn. At the same time, look forward to Jesus’ glorious return and to a day where we will be able to celebrate God in His presence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)