August

This is the second stanza of a poem by Sir Francis Drake:

"Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim."

This past month has been very scattered. Which is why I am currently writing this 'August' update on the 2nd of September in an airport in Denver (Sorry about that for any avid blog readers). All of my belongings have been packed and many sad goodbyes have been said. And it's been difficult. And its been scary. 

But the line in the poem above that says 'when we have ceased to dream of eternity' has been a constant reminder to me of the beauty of God's plans. On a big scale there is God's amazing plan to redeem us so that we can spend eternity with him in heaven. But on a personal scale, all the difficulties I am facing now are broadening and brightening my vision of an eternity with Christ. I have been challenged to have more hope and joy in my Savior, and the house that he prepares for me. So if any of you are feeling loss right now be it of a person, place, or thing I pray that you too may begin to dream more often, and more elaborately, of what is awaiting for us. One of my leaders here reminded me of this passage in Mathew 19:

"Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."

Next time I write I'll be in Africa!!