The Journey of Life

BIRTH – The Incredible Miracle of Life

I remember the day I was born.  The incredible miracle of life had once again been fulfilled.  From the elements of the earth I was fearfully and wonderfully made.  I burst forth like a ray of sunshine into a strange and mysterious world of wonders.  I experienced feelings; pain, hunger, and fear.  I remember the loving arms that embraced me that day.  The kind face that smiled into mine.  I remember the warmth that radiated from my mother’s body into mine filling me with a sense of peace and security.

I remember the strange noises.  Sounds for which the meaning must come later.  Objects which had uses I was yet to learn.  Voices and language which had no meaning.  Even my own feelings were beyond my limited understanding.  I was a creation of God but for what purpose I did not know.  Yet I knew there must be a purpose.  There must be a goal; a reason for my existence.  Yet, for now I must be content in the cradle of loving arms; warmed and nourished with love and understanding.  Tomorrow I will began seeking the reasons for my existence and the purpose of my life.  Today, I will just spend time getting used to this place and enjoy the love into which I have been born.

So I snuggled up against my mother’s breast, and God smiled.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous  are thy  works; and that my soul knoweth  well.”… Psalms 139:14

CHILDHOOD – The Incredible Age of Discovery

Today I released the hand that supported me and took my first step into the marvelous creation into which I had been born.  I still did not know my destination or my purpose but my journey of discovery had begun.  I remember the wonders of being able to explore the world beyond my crib.  The feeling of freedom to do, to see, to feel, and to experience.  I began to understand every part of me had a use and a purpose.  I learned to coordinate the parts of my body with the desires of my mind.  I discovered that my desires could be satisfied and my goals attained by utilizing my thoughts to direct my actions.

Outside my door I found a big new world.  A world of beautiful blue skies, large green trees and meadows of grass and wild flowers.  A world of cool breezes and warm sunshine.  I discovered the wondrous days of awe and happiness known only to the very young.  Concepts like responsibility and obligation were not yet a part of my life.  Someday they will be, but today I will just run and play and laugh.  Today I will be me and take full advantage of the freedom of childhood.  I will discover a bubbling brook.  I will stand amazed as I look at a deer, a rabbit or a bird in a nest.  I will see wondrous things in the clouds and bask in the sunshine of my youth.  Tomorrow I will consider more serious things in life.  Today I will simply enjoy being me.

I asked myself, “Who made this wonderful place?”, and God smiled.

“For every beast of the field is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beast of the field are mine.”  Psalms 50:10-11

YOUNG ADULT – The Incredible World of Knowledge

Sixteen is a wonderful age.  My world is now one of books and learning.  I never knew there was so much to know.  Gradually I discovered the power of my mind. I learned to look for reason and purpose in all that I experienced.  I learned about things such as the food cycle, the tilt of the earth which made for the seasons and my universe of the sun, moon and stars.  I learned of nature and that wonderful mixture of chemicals that made life possible.  I learned that everything that exists is somehow related to everything else.  I began to understand the reason for me, the purpose of my life, and the goal that I must reach.

I also discovered a wonderful book called the Bible.  As I buried myself in its treasurers, a whole new world was opened to me.  I learned of a place called heaven.  A world beyond my own which was filled with beauty, happiness and loving companionship which would never end.  I learned about a loving savior who had left that wonderful place and come to earth.  I learned how He lived and loved and died just so I could someday leave the small world of my birth and dwell in heaven forever.  I remember the day I was baptized in obedience to His commandment and received the promise of eternal life with Him.

I promised to serve the Lord my God through all the days of my life, and God smiled.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His Handiwork.   Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”…..Psalms 19:1-3

MARRIAGE – The Incredible Union of Two Spirits.

Today I met a special person.  I had seen lots of people before but this one was somehow very different. These new feelings were very different from anything I had ever experienced.  This special person smiled at me and I felt a warmth deep within my soul.  I felt the touch of a hand; I heard the sound of a certain voice and knew that something very special and very wonderful was happening.  This special person became my best friend as we talked, laughed, and discovered a joy of companionship neither of us had ever known before. This must be that thing I had heard about.  What was it they called it?  Oh yes, this must be love.

I remember words being spoken as if though the midst of a cloud.  I remember music and singing.  I remember the smile of my very special friend standing at my side and the warm inner glow as our hands grasp.  I made a promise that day that would take the rest of my life to fulfill.  There would be many tears mixed in with the great happiness that we would share.  There would be sorrow amid the laughter.  There would be times of loneliness in the midst of that wonderful companionship.  But through it all we would walk together.  Side by side, hand in hand, heart in heart.

I left my father and mother to become one with a special person, and God smiled.

“Therefore shall a“ man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.  And they were both  naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”  Genesis 2:24-25

PARENTHOOD – The Incredible Gift form God

Today I became a parent.  I remember the little hand that reached up and grabbed my finger.  And the little eyes that reached up and grabbed my heart.  I remember the need and trust in those eyes.  I remember how inadequate and helpless I felt.  Was I really to be trusted with this young life?  God help me care for it, nourish it, and mold it.  Now the term responsibility took on a whole new meaning.  A child had become a part of me and my life would never be the same again.

Once again I had been a part of the creation of life.  Only this time I had assumed an awesome responsibility in doing so.  I must set the examples and teach the values that would become this child’s life.  This child which God had given me.  I must teach it to laugh, to feel, and to walk upright and honest before all people.  I must never forget that I do not own this child.  It belongs to God and He has only loaned it to me for a short time.  I remember how the years flew as I watched God’s special gift grow and mature.  The days went slowly, but the years passed very quickly.  And suddenly one day, long before I was ready, my job was finished.

I had raised my child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and God smiled.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb are His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of thy youth.”  Psalms 127:3-4

MIDDLE AGE – The Incredible Joy of Family

Those were busy years for my family and me.  It seemed there was never enough time to get everything done.  Work, home, church, children and a thousand other things constantly demanded our time.  It seemed our house was the meeting place for every child in the neighborhood and there was always at least one bike blocking the driveway when I came home.  Recitals and cub scouts gave way to pom poms and high school plays.  We sometimes felt we were caught up in a whirlpool from which there was no escape.

Yet even then my spouse and I managed to steal quiet moments from time to time.  The joy of being a family was too important to be pushed aside by a busy life.  A smile, that special look or sometimes just a voice on the phone reminded us how close we really were.  Yes, the days were really filled to the brim but even then our cup overflowed.  We knew the love of one another and the love of children then grandchildren.  Our lives became timed, not by weeks and years but by an ever-changing stream of special events.  There were birthdays and vacations, first days of school and high school activities.  I remember graduation ceremonies; first high school, then college.  Finally there were the weddings followed by grandchildren.

Through it all, we walked by faith remembering our Creator through the years, and God smiled.

“Blessed is the man that hearth me. Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the post of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” Proverbs 8:34-35

RETIREMENT – The Incredible Golden Years

I don’t remember growing old.  I only remember the days becoming years and just as summer gives way to autumn, one day I realized that my spouse and I walked a little slower.  We were content with far less excitement in our lives. We rediscovered each other and found a quiet peace that the young have yet to learn.  Birthdays seemed to come closer together than before and the grandchildren were growing much too fast.

I found myself placing more importance on the small mementos of years gone by.  Picture albums were opened more often and old letters were reread.  The arts and crafts our children had brought home from school years before regained a special prominence.  I found myself spending more time just remembering.  A special satisfaction came from mentally reliving he times we had shared.  The laughter and tears of days spent together.  Time became our most important asset.  We treasured time together just to sit and talk, to silently swing and remember, to enjoy the many blessings of a live well lived.

As I counted His blessings I knew whom I had believed in and trusted Him for those remaining days, and God smiled.

“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of al his labour, it is the gift of God.” Ecc. 3:12-13

DEATH – The Incredible Freeing of the Spirit

I can’t remember who left the earth first, my spouse or me.  I remember thinking beforehand that the years of separation would be endless, yet looking back, the two events seem so close  together that I can’t remember which came first.  I remember holding hands that last time.  I remember the smile and look of love that was always there.  I remember children and grandchildren and tears.

But very strangely amidst it all I remember an overwhelming inner peace.  The long-ago read words, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also,” flooded my mind.

Slowly and quietly, as if floating through a door I slipped from one world to another.  I remember suddenly being surrounded by familiar faces from my past.  There was mother and dad, still holding hands.  Brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles.  Friends long since departed from the earth.  Thousands of angels were singing and there was excitement all around me.

I remembered the words, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints,” and God smiled.

“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”…..Psalm 23:4

ETERNITY – The Incredible home of God

Now we are together again, my spouse and I and there is no reason to hurry.  We are surrounded by friends, relatives, children and generations of grandchildren.  Each has a very special place in our hearts.  Yes, some are missing buy we understand why and accept it.  We see Jesus all the time and God is a very real and visible part of our existence.  There are no days or nights here, no months or years.  There is no sadness, no tears.  Everything is beauty and splendor.  Everything is perfection.

Along with all the saints of heaven we walk with the Lord in white.  The city four square has no boundaries and the sights are indescribable in human terms. Friendships are endless and the joy is everlasting.  We visit with the great men and women of faith.  Noah, Moses, and Abraham, Peter, Paul and John the Baptist.  Also Ruth, Esther, Dorcas and Phoebe.  They are all here.  And, as we walk together I can understand why it was said, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, not heart imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

We sing a new song, and God Smiles.

“And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.”   Revelations 22:4-5