The View Ahead

Grand Teton Mountains

As the pangs of grief subside to milder aftershocks, the mental and emotional faculties continue to gradually come on like those flickering buzzing florescent light tubes.  With this ongoing re-calibration my focus is increasingly forward. And really is there any other choice? Time is a funny thing as it is a relentless and unyielding stream in which our lives move. While there are rocks (big ones) in this river of time it's still racing forward. So I peer ahead but to only see a blank canvas yet to be painted with the details. It's an interesting place to be at 50 years of age as plenty of you can attest to due to varying life circumstances. 

As I ponder (and I ponder alot) the path ahead I lean on truths and lessons that Heidi and I would often perseverate over within the throws of MS. There is no better teacher than hardships and suffering. The challenge is to apply those lessons. The overriding lesson was that this world, this stuff, including it's pain and suffering are temporary for the believer. Suffering is merely a lens that brings our hope in view.  

“Whatever sort of tribulation we suffer, we should always remember that it's purpose is to make us spurn the present and reach for the future”. ~ John Calvin

So the question for me as it is for all of us is what is my goal or better yet what is in my view?  I think about road trips out west waiting to see the first glimpse of distant mountain ranges. Once those distance peaks are in view the compulsion grows to get across the drab plains and  into the shadow of those majestic mountains.  The view we set before us is important because it's what compels us.  Our paths are largely set by the object of our focus and affection that resides deep within the recesses of our hearts. 

"Whatever a man depends upon, whatever rules his mind, whatever governs his affections, whatever is the chief object of his delight, is his god." ~ Charles Spurgeon

The apostle Paul spoke directly to this in Phil 3:7-14 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared (in view) to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Terms like "consider everything loss" don't leave alot of wiggle room.  We (I) often recite this and similar passages while holding onto possessions, comfort, reputation even loved ones clinched in our fist. But what happens when these things are taken away (by force or by circumstance or by choice). Do we count these earthly things as loss for the surpassing value of gaining Christ and even more so actually prepared to suffer for Christ’s sake. 

But in view or comparison to Christ everything else should be considered rubbish.  So is the view set before me the majesty of Christ or I am fixated on the immediate surroundings that infitely pale in comparison? 

Heidi truly counted all things loss compared to being with Christ. Nothing compared to her Savior as she yearned to be home with her Lord Jesus Christ.  

I trust and pray that the true View ahead will compel me (and us)  forward whether good times or bad.

Col 3:1-4 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts (affections) on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
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Pontifications from the past can be found in the "Soliloquies and Studies" section

The Course is Short

North Woods of Minnesota

While I was writing my last post the news broke of Kobe Bryant along with his daughter and seven others dying in a helicopter crash. My first thought was on those left behind and how crushing it must be to hear the sudden and unexpected news. Following the crash I listened to the interviews of those who shared their memories. More often than not they would say something like "...while Kobe was a great basketball player he was ......... as a person".  Other than knowing Kobe as a great basketball player, and the only one that rivals Michael Jordan in my personal opinion, I only know what people say of him. More recently I had a beloved aunt go onto to be with the Lord. Known for her character and faith in Christ she was cherished by her family and had a large and impactful influence. And I've had close friends recently lose a loved one who was a devoted follower of Christ. Life here is fragile and most certainly a terminal condition. 

I am reminded of the words in James 4:14 - "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." 

The fact is our little lives lived out on this revolving spherical mass (not flat :-) ) in  the vastness of space does not last long. We act like we'll be here forever scurrying around at a busy distracted pace and putting our priorities in things that ultimately no one is going to remember or have little bearing on eternity. But whether a celebrity like Kobe, a next door neighbor, a fellow employee, or family member, we remember people for who they are not what they did. We say that so easily but practice it so poorly. 

I was with Heidi for her last breath. This was a profound and sacred moment for multiple reasons. In some ways it felt one could not be any closer to the threshold of Heaven knowing she had crossed this life for a new one in the presence of God. And in that moment and since I have this feeling of "and I am left here" with life's cadre of challenges and conundrums. But with that and knowing I have crossed the half century mark in age there is a more keen awareness (that hopefully sticks) on the purpose in the short time I have left here. I don't think it means work, time spent with people and going about my daily life is meaningless but should become more meaningful with a more eternal heavenly perspective. How does one do this? Well I am still figuring it out :-) But I do have some thoughts based largely on the many conversations Heidi and I had over the years in coping with the ever present suffering with MS. And to do this I am going to break down the message I gave at her celebration service over a few blogs (subject to change of course - it's a blog).

As mentioned last post, when asking Heidi for words of wisdom in her final earthly days she said “Stay the Course”.  Well, to the "Stay the Course" you first must have a set course to run and that course requires a destination or finish line. And to stay on that course you must have a direction and a goal. 

Scripture certainly speaks of a course to run and how to run it. Heb. 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..."

This course has both temporal and eternal benefits strengthening and preparing us along the way. James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

We're instructed that this course of life requires perseverance and will (not might) include suffering but the end result will be prize beyond compare. 1 Peter 1:6-8 - "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

What we do know is that this earthly course is short and really the length of a sprint rather than a marathon. Yes I have scenes and music running in my head from Chariots of Fire (one of Heidi's favorites). 

Eric Liddel, the missionary who inspired the movie said - "The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God's help I run faster."

and he said - "...and when I run I feel His pleasure"

May it be so of me (us) as we run this course of life. 

More to come once as I ponder and perseverate some more.

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I continue to build on the Pot of Grits blog.  You may share a comment or contact me.  The blog is public and open to sharing.

Pontifications from the past can be found in the "Soliloquies and Studies" section