Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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Late one recent Saturday afternoon, Hubs and I sat out on the upper back deck of our old houseboat (aptly named Great Escapes) watching life float by, so gently, as though there was nothing to worry about. Neither in the natural aquatic world of fish, ducks and geese freely navigating as they please, or that of Homo Sapiens who like to float on water too but need manmade contraptions to make it happen.
We are docked across the marina basin from a boat launch ramp so we get to watch an infinite variety of humanity temporarily identifying as water fowl motoring off to seek the stress free pleasures of water life.
Immersed in the moment, though it was a perfect, mild, spring day, plenty to be grateful for, I felt a sudden sinking in my soul. An ache. A deep sadness that, as The Teacher of Lamentations mourned, all is vanity. We paddle so hard to get to where we can exhale and relax, only to find we never arrive to a place of true rest in the real world.
I've come to believe this is because we have been carefully manipulated to trust 'Illusion World' as genuine and accepted as the ultimate reason for living. Decades of advertising and constant immersion in fictional stories in movies and television, agenda based propaganda pushed at us 24/7, has made us expect that the goal of living is to be happy, (and lately super self-righteous as well) that there should always be good closure and thus that is what we are supposed to be reaching for, i.e., life must be a happy, seemingly virtuous journey to our perfect ending. Unfortunately this, then, disables our common sense quotient and keeps us ever questing after the wrong life goals and expectations and thus reaping the inevitable disappointments.
The unpolished truth is that life is messy, at best, a constant flow of challenges to be met. Our dinghies often spring leaks and take on water that threatens to sink us. Interesting that having to tread water all the time does strengthen us for even greater challenges.
Ultimately we live until we die, mostly imperfectly, but hopefully well enough to leave good echoes behind and then transition to a better place because we accepted that we do have the option, via free will, to choose, not just how uprightly we live but where we end up.
In her final weeks, my older sister, Jo, and I used to delve into some heavy conversations. She was born to fret so when she started up stressing that she hoped her kids, grands and great grands, would be okay after she was gone, I always, ever so gently, reminded her that we cannot shuffle off this mortal coil leaving behind all things tidy, though I do get that we really wish we had that power.
On the brink of turning 74, I admit that I am wearing thin and some of that is me aging out. But that's just physical. Interesting though, as my worldly side wanes, my spiritual side gets stronger every day. As things move along into what appears to be more and more Biblical prediction being fulfilled in real time, I am preparing to put on the full armor of God and stand. Against all odds. The only caveat is being discerning enough to see who or what the opposition is.
Regardless, maybe I can't leave things tidy but I can elect to go out honorably. Thus, I have chosen whom I will worship and serve and it isn't the god of this world or anything in it. The god of SELF and Good for Goodness Sake is a lying charlatan, a cheap imitation, and can never replace the true God of all Creation. (Full disclosure - I never really fit here anyway so it's not that big a sacrifice for me. I am the classic example of being one who can live here without being from here.)
But for those who are clinging to the delusional hope that one day this world is finally going to be Utopia, and love, love, love, will one day prevail, that eventually humanity will at last rise up, all will be righted, all things safe will be instituted, all dangers eliminated... and we will be able to sail off into a good and perfect life, I am compelled to be the bearer of a transcendent truth.
The day does come when those who refuse to see are blinded lest they see. It won't be the first time. The question outstanding is: will it be the last time?
For me, leaving things tidy would mean having my loved ones understand this plea - In case it is the last call, don't be one of those who refuses to see.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
For Him,
Meema
As things move along into what appears to be more and more Biblical prediction being fulfilled in real time, I am preparing to put on the full armor of God and stand. Against all odds. The only caveat is being discerning enough to see who or what the opposition is.
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