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We live as in a fog, only seeing the immediate, yet the universe and beyond is navigable
Her face radiated joy underneath a peaceful wrinkled face. Recognizable in the wistful words coming from the upside of the half droopy mouth and a body held partially intact by the shored up wheelchair. It took time for the visiting pastor to get beyond this fragile lump of clay and the waning life within to understand she had become a portal beyond time, space, and matter. He was shaken to the core as he experienced her presence of God. An old women who was far beyond what he had ever experienced.
She was already in the presence of God…connected by a lifetime of relational experience to Her Jesus and and the discipline of “Practicing the Presence of God”
To the spiritual underworld she had become a Monster Truck of destruction. This old woman with no obvious potential quality emitted a peace beyond understanding. One felt an eternal presence near her. The lies so many believe and live out in the physical world, were dented beyond repair.
To the nursing home she was the envy of those with no hope or love left in their being. She was hope, love, and Joy as she refused to leave the presence of Jesus to wipe off the spit or do more than cry at the rough hands. In pure blindness some could only explain her radiance by looking for her stash of joy juice.
To the heavens she was on display as an eternal living triumph over a mere slow death of clay. The ancient enemy of death was being beaten soundly by one who so entrusted herself to the resurrection power that mightily worked within. The power of Jesus within who overflowed to touch and heal searching hearts drawn. She had joined the ranks of those in whom the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:38).
There was no turning back even given the choice to trade places with any soul on earth. Would she trade with you and your great life; acquiring your health, wealth, loving family, security, conquests and adventures yet to be realized? Sorry but no! Would you trade places with her to stand on the edge of eternity already endowed with elements that cannot be contained in the (average mini-sized over-exaggerated) id’s mistaken for the soul? I’m sorry for those who would say no.
I have my desires ambitions and dreams before I get older but as I evaluate 2011 coming on I want to experience the presence of God. Truthfully I’d like to become a monster truck in the realms of the spiritual. I’d like to make some think I had been sipping on joy Juice rather than a green plum. I’d like to have within me a peace and joy that constantly begs the question “can I have some of what you have?”
garyfultz 