Up Close and Personal

March 13, 2008

Here I sit in the lodge of Mt. Spokane with my family for a day of skiing. I just got off the slope and I don’t really want to go back because it is too foggy. With it as bright as it is, as well as gusting snow, the conditions make me have vertigo. Vertigo is a feeling of being out of balance, and dizziness. I noticed how much my eyes are needed to help me down the hill. And I know our ears work with our eyes to keep us steady. Without either one, going down the slope is very difficult. I do prefer both.

Of course most of you already SEE that I’m already liking this to our spiritual life as well. I heard a song while driving up here that said,
“Open our ears Lord, help me to listen,
Open our eyes Lord, so we can see Jesus.”

We are so in need of having an eye and ear tune up especially as we are walking down the slope of this earthy life. Not to say that we’re all heading down hill, although it sure looks like it and the hand basket is being woven. It’s just that there is all kinds of terrain on the mountain we call the Christian life, and the only way we can maneuver is to see and hear Jesus talking to us—it’s the only way to keep our balance, so we don’t falter or fall.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if one day we were totally dependent upon listening to Him? I mean; no preacher, no radio. Could we do it?

Wonder if all we had were our eyes and no ears? That would mean no bible, no other teaching material. Could we do it?

Wonder it there was a fog in front of us all the time, and all we had was a still small voice or a seeing range of two feet in front of us, could we get down, or up? Just gently going down the ski slope like I just did, got me to thinking of all these things.


Greg is with Jesus

My friend Greg was taken up into the arms of Jesus on February 24 after six months of a journey through stomach cancer. His wife, Kari, and three girls, Anna, Ilsa and Inga are continuing to take a step at a time and have much support from family of friends, yet we all know that they still have to endure alone time.

These last few months have been experienced by many of us via e-mail reports from Kari, and then seeing him for myself. There was a lot that happened and as I observed it all had a ring to it like the disciples had with Jesus. Here are a few things I thought of.

1. It is no different today than it was 2000 years later.
When Jesus lived and died, the reaction by those who were with him was the same as we feel today about Greg. No one wants it to happen. We have not evolved into something that reacts differently. Remember when Peter wanted to prevent Jesus from dying? That’s because he didn’t want him to.
We haven’t even changed to how people reacted from the beginning of man’s time here-- ever since the first death happened with Cain killing Abel. Suffering the loss of a loved one is such a roller coaster ride of emotions because we were created with emotions.

2. The disciples were told of Jesus’ death and resurrection but they didn’t quite believe it. Jesus knew all along he was born to die in order to reconcile his creation to Himself. The disciples I’m sure prayed that he wouldn’t leave them and they didn’t understand the resurrection thing even though they actually witnessed this miracle a couple of times. It goes to show you that no matter how much we’re told, we can’t comprehend it until it happens.

The same happened with Greg. He was told in August that he had 4 months to live and all of us, himself included, didn’t want to accept it. No one wants to hear that their time is over even though we often times live each day hoping it will be our last.

If Jesus hadn’t have raised from the dead then we are to be pitied.

3. None of us were there with Jesus, but we believe the report of the eyewitnesses who were with him. The disciples witnessed the life and death and resurrection of Jesus and they wrote and told us about it. Others knew him, too. By the disciples word, we can believe what they said. Because we have the written word of Jesus’ life, it puts credibility into His existence.

Many of you I write know Greg so you too can testify what I say to you. But there are those who didn’t know him and yet you believe me when I tell you about him. Once you personally see and experience something you can’t deny what you’ve been through. You can’t convince me he was never alive even though you may not have known him. He still lives.

I love that Jesus said we would be witnesses to the world of what we have seen. Granted, we haven’t physically seen Jesus, yet we believe because of the testimony of the disciples.

4. Jesus is ALIVE and so is Greg

The celebration we call Easter is in a day or two. Interestingly, Easter celebrations have not been a big deal with me but the resurrection of Jesus is. Without it, we would have nothing. He came so that we would have life, life abundantly and eternally. What I mean to say is that the bunny and eggs has no appeal. I have never bought my kids Easter baskets or have hidden eggs for them. This is not to say that I haven’t been included in other peoples celebrations, but for me to do goes against my conscience.

Greg is alive at this moment too. His body is gone but his soul lives on in Heaven with Jesus because he believed in who Jesus is-- as the savior of the world who was born, buried and rose again on the third day to bring us back to Himself.

Last words
Please let me know how you are doing and if this format is okay for you.

Love, Tina