The Reunion

   The older I get, the more people that I know, and hold dear, pass from this life to the next. I wrote what follows to describe what could be, not what I know for sure. I am not a scholar or a theologian, but I know that God has promised all of us not to forsake us. In our biggest hour of need, I trust that His promise is the most powerful for those who are desperate to find peace and a glimpse of love lost. For those who remain..

   A warm sun filled the sky, and a gentle spring breeze blew through the budding branches of the neighborhood trees. It was a perfect day, no coat, just right for short sleeves and sunglasses. As he laid in his bed, his breathing was labored and he could not speak, but he could see this nature through the window, and he wondered, what would it be like. Not to have the sun in the sky, not to feel the wind on his face and in his hair. His wife was at his side, singing softly as she stared into his eyes, no words were spoken, but he felt her say "I love you" in her touch, and he answered her in the only way that he could, the squeeze of his hand. Since cancer had invaded his body, he had wondered about this time. At first, he trusted that God would heal his body. But Gods plan is not always our idea of the perfect design. His body had slowly been reduced to a shadow of its former self, but his love for her and for God had not diminished.
As the afternoon light grew dim in his eyes, he lost sight of his wife of many years. Although she never left his side - he felt alone, but more at peace than he had in some time. It took a few minutes for him to realize that the pain in his body was gone, but slowly he found himself imagining that he was walking through the most lush and green forest he had ever seen. Tall ferns grew everywhere, and he seemed to be on a grassy pathway that leads through the tall trees and wound further than he could see. He could smell the scent of something like pine, but not quite. After only a few moments he noticed what seemed to be a man sitting at a table alongside the pathway. The man was dressed in white, or at least he thought so. Bright, glowing light seemed to surround him. "Hello, and welcome," the man said as he approached. "I've been waiting for you," he said as he lifted his coffee mug and offered one to the newcomer. "I don't know how I got here," he said, but the man at the table interrupted, "you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Welcome" at this moment he recognized the man at the table, it was a dear friend of his that had passed away many years ago. A little surprised at how calm they both seemed to be he asked,  "Am I dead?" "You aren't dead, you're healed," said the man at the table. "And you've made it to the next part of your journey. A most wonderful and exciting odyssey". Just then he noticed many others joining them in this peaceful and beautiful setting. People and family members that he hadn't seen in years. Loved ones that had passed on, they were all there gathering around him, one by one saying hello and giving him hugs of joy, and telling him how much they had missed him. As the crowd grew larger and larger, there was one man he knew that he should recognize, but couldn't place his face, or where he knew him from. "Who was that", he thought to himself. He seemed to know everyone there by name, and they all focused on him as he came forward. "Welcome, my faithful child," he said as he hugged him. "Jesus?" whispered the man as he collapsed into his arms. "Yes, welcome home. We've been praying for you to find peace in your illness. And now, you have it". "My wife!" The man said realizing he was not going to be waking up from this vision, and knowing that she would be heartbroken and alone... Jesus quieted his fears by reminding him, that they had learned to trust in God together, and that she was in good hands. "Thank you," he said as they began to talk and walk throughout the gathering. They hugged and began to visit among the crowd. They laughed together and told stories of their adventures as the family and friends continued to celebrate his arrival.
Her eyes filled with tears as she watched his last breath leave his body. His hand in hers, once strong and guiding, was now still and unmoving, expressionless. She lifted it to her lips and kissed him one final goodbye. For the next few minutes, she sat quietly. Crying, remembering, and praising God that they had never given up on their promise to love each other. Unseen to her right and to her left, there were two beings standing near her. They were shrouded in bright light, at least in they're realm. The angels were there, watching, comforting, and guarding her for him, in her time of grief, doing what he could no longer do. Sent by the master's command, they watched over her, wiped her tears, and gave her the blessing of a flood of memories that made her smile and laugh a little. She wondered what he was seeing. What it must be like. If he could see his family, his friends. What was heaven like? What a wonderful reunion he had talked about having when he got there.
A few days later, she laid his body to rest. Kind words were spoken to comfort the living and respect the absent.  She smiled as she imagined him looking on from a distance, telling those with him how much he loved her. He was indeed there. And he was telling them just that, someday he would hug her in person again. She vowed, that she would look forward to that day when she would run into his arms again. The day that would be their reunion, and chance to praise God together, again. Until then

Randy
For Dad, Greg, and Johnny, I miss you all and look forward to our reunion.
4-24-2015

The Imagination Solution

     I was reminded lately, that as children, our hours and days are spent with an abundance of imaginary adventures, fun friends, and far off places. We have fun, experience new things, and relieve the stress of our young lives by believing in something or someone who is exciting and brave, or beautiful and talented. In our imagination we can spend time on a desert island, or snow-covered mountain; we can visit with people we have never met, or have a conversation when family members and mentors that have passed away into the next adventure. It seems nothing is beyond that idealistic realm, it's a possibility among all possibilities.

  Each day that we live and grow older, we lose a small piece of that ability to believe. We learn that life is about reality and not about fantasy. And this affects us in very profound ways. We lose certain abilities to see the good in life, and the kindness of a gentle gesture. The hope that can be fostered by one good happy thought. It may not help us "fly", but the lack of this belief has also blinded us to the realm of possibility. We have no problem believing in unproven theories of science and probabilities, even though they are as hard to see in real life as the miracles that we so often seek or dream of.

  If we could look at life with the same perspective of hope and dreams as we did when we were young, would we live happier lives? If you allowed yourself to dream of things that you haven't known or enjoyed for most of your life, would you strive a little harder to attain them? It is a sobering thought when I think that I might be my own worst adversary when it comes to conquering fears about the unknown or working through unresolved issues. We say and think that we seek happiness and prosperity, but the path to those goals does not always lie in a factual, and realistic world. I have to stop to consider that my attitude and how I pursue happiness could be a bigger stumbling block to succeeding at what I seek, than my physical effort. Is it possible that we desire what we don't understand? Or that our spirit tells us that we are so unworthy of that reward that we really will never get there anyhow, so why try?

  I know that as I walk this winding road of life, that I feel the pressures and pain of every loss, every day. To say that my attitude is not always a positive one would be an understatement of monumental proportions. But of things unseen and yet to be known, a God who loves me and wants the best for me, is as hard to understand as putting a number or order to the stars of the universe. How do we bring ourselves to believe in a God that is as much unseen and mysterious as our childhood dreams? It's not easy. In fact, it is one of the hardest ideas to fathom. But faith is like that favorite song that you heard when you were a child. Sometimes you can't remember all of the words, and you hardly know anything about who wrote it, or when; but when it comes to mind, or you hear it hummed or being played, the feeling of comfort and happiness is as clear as the morning sky. Faith is using your imagination, your hope, and your reasoning, to believe in something far more wondrous and compelling than yourself. It is the solution to the phrase, "how ?". And imagination gives our faith a media within our minds where the images can play out our dreams, our gifts, our love, and friendships. It may just be, that Faith is the solution, to our earthly imagination.

Randy

(4/2/2015)