Journey's end

The first day of our adventure began before day break.  After loading the car with all our paraphernalia, including three dogs and two cats, Brant went to start the car and  . . . nothing.  After several attempts to jump start it – to no avail - we switched out the battery with another vehicle and we were on our way and we were even on time.  About half way through the trip we pulled off the interstate to get gas.  As we pulled off onto the exit ramp, the van died.  Fortunately it turned out that the connection on the battery had come loose, so it was easy to fix.  We were grateful it didn't happen on the interstate in the middle of construction that was going on.   Our next stop was Auto Zone, where we purchased a battery that was appropriate for our van. 

The rest of the trip were smoothly until we got to our driveway.  Anyone who has been to the house knows about our driveway, which is rather steep.  About half way up we encountered a fallen tree – or at least the top part with all the limbs and branches.  So, we put the van in park and walked in the rest of way only to find that the electricity was out – due to another fallen tree.  Brant and Reuben got a chain saw and headed back down the drive, while I called the electric company (fortunately the hard line phone worked).  In a few moments the guys were up with the van and we unloaded and began to settle in. 

Now the reason we had started this adventure before the break of day was because Brant really wanted to see Franking High School’s football game, which was taking place about 2 hours away and I am happy to report he made it.  Shortly after they left for the game the electric guy showed up and within about an hour the power was restored. So I got to stay home, lights and water working, with the puppies and the cats and just enjoy being at peace in our mountain retreat.

I’ll never know the reason for all the little bumps in the road along the way, but at journey’s end none of them really mattered.  I’m confident that is how it will be when we’re finally home with the Lord, the peace and joy we will experience will far outweigh any difficulty we may encounter along the way.  So just keep on keeping on!

Is it lawful?

Hypocrites usually care more about external conformity than about inward righteousness. (Commentary on Luke 14:1-6)

This brought to mind an episode in Flashpoint (a police drama where an elite tactical unit responds to extreme situations) – where Ed, in doing his job, shots a young woman and kills her.   He followed procedure, did what he was trained to do, but it’s eating him up because what he did went against what he knew was right.  In a following episode the mother of the young woman comes to forgive him, but he can’t accept it, because he can’t forgive himself.  There is this conflict between doing what he was trained to do and doing what he knew in his heart was the right thing to do.

We are born with this knowledge of what is right and wrong, so that when we sin, by doing what we know is wrong, our hearts confront us and there is no peace.  Only through the forgiveness of a loving Father can we be made right again.  That forgiveness is only found in Jesus.