“The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:21

It was close to Katie’s Birthday last week and I overheard her talking about shoes. Specifically the old wooden Dr. Scholl’s wooden sandals that were popular back in the late 70’s. I remember her LOVING those things, but had a hard time understanding her laughter while remembering the pain after she’d slip off of them sideways! But her Birthday was coming so…I searched, found and ordered her a pair. They arrived yesterday!

She was SOOOO happy! Even though these one weren’t made of wood, she slipped them on and smiled. Later when we were out walking she turned to me and asked, “When you look at my feet, don’t they just take you back to when we were first married?” Realizing my wife may have just discovered a secret to ‘time travel,’ I simply agreed…quickly adding, ‘Yea honey, they do make you look younger!” We laughed.

I received news yesterday that Lee, from our church, is not doing well. That is…if going home under Hospice care is a true indicator of such a thing. Family is being called, courage mustered and prayers uttered as sorrow looms in every corner. What does one SAY in a situation like that. What words can REALLY be uttered to lessen such pain? The only thing I have found that can provide any kind of levity, is to focus on the future!

Things change. What we have learned to love and cling to can evaporate into an air of sadness quickly. This whole Covid thing has disrupted the very fabric of our lives, as fear and the pursuit of a false safety has become the mindset of a majority. In truth…we are NOT SAFE and never have been! Left to our own imaginations, it is popular to invent false realities that trick our minds to help us FEEL like we are O.K., even as our very world is slipping into decay and in need of liberation! What can we say?

The Word of God is the ONLY place we can turn. It is HIS perspective that gives us hope and courage for a better and different future under HIS kind of normal! Focusing on what ‘will be’ is a good thing. But ONLY if it is REAL! Born again believers, like Lee and Hazel, KNOW that ‘there’ holds NO comparison to ‘here!’ As I talked with Hazel yesterday it occurred to me that… “In the end, doesn’t looking forward make things look SO much better!?” Time travel indeed!

Please pray for their courage and strength.