Made for eternity

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

I hope you get the joke, but I was struck today at just how fast time really does move. If it was an animal, I'm sure it would be quicker than a cheetah. I am sure I had at least a week till I had to get ready for camp, and now it is looming in front of me with a death stare saying "Are you ready?"

I feel bad trivialising the passing of time. For some, time is of the essence, and when it continues to travel along so quickly, it becomes heart breaking. The thing is, I think it's because we were made for eternity.

We were made for a place where death was not looming, things did not turn to dust, and people did not have to go away. Time did not matter. But when we fell out of that perfect relationship with our creator, our clocks turned to reserve power, which won't last forever.

I'm sure there are other things that make us feel the world is broken. Suffering, pain, broken relationships. The passing of time is another more subtle way which still shows how trashed our world has become.

With everything however, we have an assured hope that with a renewed relationship with our creator, time won't matter anymore. We will live for eternity with him.

Dear God

You are love.

You are big, really big.

You know me; you know everything!

You are the creator of all things.

Thank you for nature.

The sky, trees, clouds, fire.

Thank you for relationships.

My family, friends, getting to know strangers.

You are forgiving.

You take it upon yourself to pay my debt.

You won't let me wallow in guilt.

You help me love you more.

Sorry for my thoughts, words, and actions.

When I know I'm doing wrong.

And when I don't even notice.

Sorry for not following you fully.

Thank you for freedom.

No more worries because of you.

Thank you for changing me.

I'd be stuck otherwise.

Please give me wisdom.

And strength and courage.

To be a better disciple.

Please keep me praying.

Help others too.

Friends and followers.

In their struggles or joys.

To hold fast to you.

Amen

I am not a scientist

In the hemisphere I live in, it is winter right now. 5 layers of clothing, slippers everywhere, the clouds of steam with every breath. What I especially love is curling up right near the fireplace. Not only is it warm, but to me watching fire is an amazing thing.

Orange tentacles push against the glass, ripples spread over the burning embers, and for me, it looks like the fire is breathing.

Now you can get all sciencey on me and say that fire is just heat, some fuel, and oxygen all combusting and creating a chemical reaction, which emits light and heat energy. I have been to school long enough to know that fire isn't a monster and that it isn't alive. But once in a while I let my imagination run wild.

The point of this story is to show why I don't want to be a scientist. I look at fire and I see an animal; I look at a tree and marvel at its beauty; I look at the sky and just let its size engulf me. I don't mind its origins, its inner working, and its purpose left unexplained.

I respect scientists, and I know that without some people looking deeper into nature many good things in this world wouldn't have been invented. And I am happy to admit I am not someone like that.

I am so glad God has created everyone unique, with different skills, different ideas, and different futures so we can share and learn from each other. What skills has God given you?