Checking our foundations

I read a neat poem this morning. In the light of the political and economic cloudiness of these days in this country, these words help to bring me back to those things that matter most to me - my faith in God that transcends all the events, thoughts, and confusion that clutters our newscasts and newspapers each day. I submit the following for your thoughts as well.

Biblical text: Revelation 22:6-12

"Are you really the Alpha and Omega
the first and the last
the beginning and the end?

The world's clouds disillusion us
our limitations depress us
weakness disappoints us

our souls groan with finite fickleness
we do not know where the mire and maze
begin and end.

We do not know how to begin to end
the confusion, the chaos, the lies
how to complete the healing;

the evil are still evil
the filthy are still filthy
the righteous still seek to do right.

The winds chill us to the bone
we long for the fire of your love
burning like sun above heavy hearts

we search skies for your return
a trustworthy and true promise
you are coming soon;

even as winter storms blow, your sun
breaks open our pain to unveil
a blue-skied forever of wholeness and worship.

Yes! You are the Alpha and Omega
the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.

-Laurie Oswald Robinson

(Reprinted by permission from Now It Springs Up by Carol Duerksen, Michele Hershberger, and Laurie Oswald Robinson. Published by WillowSpring Downs, email willowspringdowns@juno.com)

True Believers

I'm taking a clue from our granddaughter's blog, which is to not preach politics. But there is another blog that I identify with very much. I'll let the author of the book here, Greg Boyd, do my preaching for me. His blog dated September 6 is an "on-track sermon." His book, The Myth of a Christian Nation, speaks of the place political involvement might have in the lives of God's people. Good reading. His ideas help me to keep my focus where it should be during these very interesting, yet sometimes troubling times.

77 and still going

After several weeks of vacation from blogging I decided to come back. Maybe its just because this happens to be my 77th birthday. Maybe not. But just doing this again seems like the right thing to do.

It was supposed to be a nice, warm and sunny morning, at least according to my weather wishes. But now it is a cloudy, rainy and a bit chilly day. Not that I had that much on the slate to do today, but a little different weather might have given a few more options.

Most birthdays at my age aren't too special anymore. Now we look for those special birthdays, like 70, 75, 80, etc. This is sort of an in-between birthday, not too special. However, if I would have thought about it a year ago I might have said that this year should be my "lucky" year - two big sevens? But the 77th year is now past, and I'm beginning the 78th. And in some respects the 77th wasn't all that "lucky" (I put lucky in quotes because I really don't believe in luck per se). There were some difficult times, for sure, but again there were some good times.

What will the next year bring my way? Who knows except the Lord, who knows all things. I'm very happy that I can say with the Psalmist, "My times are in your hand." When I view all the political gobeldegook that's been going on (yeh I watched most of it the last two weeks) I'm happy to know that the Lord of all is still the God of all the earth - that to Him the nations are as a drop in the bucket - and that no matter what happens here in the USA, or elsewhere, He will bring all things to His intended end in His determined time. I find it important after listening to the political speaches etc. to tune in to the eternal themes through inspiring music. I think I'm wearing out a couple of our CD's which especially help me keep my spiritual focus.

"This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." I plan to enjoy this day, even if I don't know for sure what it is that I want to do. I do have plans for a couple of things - eating a piece of gooseberry pie (which I ordered up) and watching the Cubbies try to get back on the winning track - that would be a good birthday present. Those are the peripheral things in my plan for the day. Right now I need to check out the daily readings I do and open my heart to what the Lord has for me, and all of us who seek Him. And so I remain a

Pilgrim on the way