Posts Tagged: Florida
“Thoughts Before Going Home”
Monday, February 25, 2019
Our time is coming to an end soon here in Florida. My goal is to enjoy the last few days we have here. I’ve had a really wonderful time. The warmth and sunshine have been delicious. So has the food. Long walks on the beach, miniature golf, the flowers, and seagulls—all wonderful! And, of course, being with my sweetheart, my wife, has been a great treat.
However, it will be good to be
Our time on earth will also end soon. We need to enjoy it, to cherish it, to take good care of the earth, of one another, of ourselves. But soon, we’ll be going home.
Paul reminds the Philippians that their real citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20) Why did he need to remind them? Because they, like all of us, were prone to forget.
C.S. Lewis says that God gives us some nice inns along the way, but he never lets us mistake them for home.
The Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus says something similar.
“Consider when, on a voyage, your ship is anchored; if you go on shore to get water you may along the way amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish, or an onion. However, your thoughts and continual attention ought to be bent towards the ship, waiting for the captain to call on board; you must then immediately leave all these things, otherwise you will be thrown into the ship, bound neck and feet like a sheep.
So it is with life. If, instead of an onion or a shellfish, you are given a wife or child, that is fine. But if the captain calls, you must run to the ship, leaving them, and regarding none of them. But, if you are old, never go far from the ship: lest, when you are called, you should be unable to come in time.”
Enjoy life, wherever you are, but don’t miss the boat!
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
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