I’m out on my balcony on an absolutely beautiful day here in Franklin, Tennessee! The sun is bright and the breeze is cool. Neighbor kids are playing in a tree. Another neighbor has been doing “Spring cleaning”, or is that “Summer cleaning?” I’ve been listening to my friend Jason Gray’s CD, “All the Lovely Losers,” today, and man, is it a good CD. I got to hang out with my Pastor a bit today, and I’m meeting up with one of my good friends in a few minutes to catch up and drink some Ale-8 (That’s Kentucky’s own soft drink that I stock up on when I’m up there. It’s a precious commodity down here, though I hear there’s a store that sells it in Nashville!) This is one of those days where you realize that life can be absolutely wonderful.
The irony is that I pack up and leave in a couple of days for another place that is absolutely beautiful. Lord willing, I’m heading to camp for the summer where I’ll be playing music and counseling and possibly travelling some on the weekends to play and/or speak at various churches.
So, this is where I find myself. Absolutely thankful and loving where I am today, and, at the same time, looking forward vey much to being where I’m going shortly. I’m saying “good-bye” for two months to friends (like I did last night with two of my friends, one of whom may have moved by the time I get back) and saying “hello” to friends whom I also dearly love and have missed. At the end of the summer, Lord willing, I’ll be repeating the whole process when it’s time to come back to Tennessee.
And so, I find myself thinking about two things, and I encourage you to think about these things as well. The first is that no matter where I am, I should “BE!” That is, I should thoroughly take it in, and enjoy the moment. Savor it like I would a good Ale-8! Tomorrow is gone, and we don’t know what tomorrow holds, so enjoy the joys of the present moment to the fulluest. Truly live them! To do so is an act of gratefulness to God Who gives them to you.
The second thing that comes to mind, is that transitions like this are really a picture of our existence, for those of us who know Jesus. We know that God has us here on this planet for a reason, and, hopefully, we find great joy and fulillment living out those puposes of knowing and enjoying Him, and sharing His greatness with others. At the same time, as much as we love being here, we know there is another place waiting, with other great people that we have known and miss. Of course, I’m talking about Heaven. There is great comfort in knowing where I am going, and knowing that I have friends and family that I miss who are waiting on me.
You know, knowing that I am at peace with my Creator, knowing that He is actively involved in my life even when it may at times not seem like it, and knowing where I am going when I die…well, these things free me up to really LIVE!
I hope you know this same joy, and if you don’t, what, my friend, are you waiting for? There is a Savior looking your direction with open arms, arms who’s hands still hold the scars of the nails He took for you. He beckons you to come, and when you are but walking toward Him, He will run toward you, run with feeet that still bear the scars of the third nail that was taken for you! Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.
Till next time (Lord willing, some time next week)
Grace and Peace,
Sam
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