Year in Review

Soren Kierkegard once said that life can only be understood looking backward but must be lived moving forward.  (My paraphrase.)  As I look back on the previous year plus, I am amazed at the journey yours truly has taken.  The only observation that counts is how my Father God has walked with and blessed me the entire time.  With the exception of some temp work here and there, I was fortunate enough to have had enough money in the bank to take off for most of 2021.  Again, the Great Shepard has richly provided when I needed His help the most.  If I cease resisting His hand of providence and love for me, the lover of my soul has proven time and again that He is willing to grant a rich life far beyond anything I could ever fathom in this temporary earthly life.  I am simply a pilgrim on a journey to an eternal kingdom.  This life is the proving ground for the next world.  Of course I will experience less than ideal circumstances and personal reverses; however, I am not left to my own devices.  Unfortunately, many years have been wasted as I selfishly pursued a vision contrary to God's Will.  After decades of self-destruction and wreckage, behaving as a tornado in many people's lives, including my own, the realization that anything accomplished here on earth apart from a loving relationship with God will only burn up in the eternal fire.  One day I will stand before a Holy God to give an account for what has been done for His kingdom.  The most important question is what have I done with His son Jesus.  How sad it has taken this long to figure out one's true purpose in life.  Maybe I knew this all along and refused to acquiese to the higher calling.  King Solomon figured it out at the end of his life by writing, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed in to judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."  Wow!  Earthly trophies of material success are fleeting and empty.  Only Jesus can provide personal fulfillment and satisfaction at the depth of the soul.  Because of the relationship I have with Him, how am I postively impacting others?  Do they see Jesus and His love in and through me?  Focusing on the vertical relationship, the horizontal relationship with the outside world will work itself out.  What have you done with Jesus?

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