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