I took a walk tonight in the view of an oncoming storm. I was feeling a little discouraged that the weekend is nearly over and a long work-week starts tomorrow. But as I was thinking and praying about it I realized some things: I have a good job, that I understand and enjoy. I have an opportunity to make some people's day a little brighter. I have good co-workers and good bosses now, who have given me the schedule I wanted. I have an imagination which I can put to use during the down times at work, so that I can write when I get home. I am blessed.
All that said, I will admit there are places I would rather be and tasks I would rather be doing. Ideally I wish I could live in the country again, surrounded by pine trees and mountain peaks. It's so easy to take things for granted when you see them every day; I grew up among such scenes as these and I often did take them for granted, but when I left I left my heart behind me. I feel out of place among apartments and city streets. Lately I have been rather homesick.
When I hear Heaven described in terms of magnificent cities and streets of gold, it sounds majestic and amazing to me, but not strongly appealing. For me, the idea place would be in the mountains, where I could hear the wind whisper in the tops of the tall pine trees. I hope the place that is being prepared for me might be something like that. But I am content to leave that in God's hands. I know on the day that my "faith becomes sight", I won't want anything else.
It encourages my heart to remember that I'm just passing through, and this life isn't forever. I am blessed, and I am not alone. And so, fortified with that knowledge, I will walk forward into the coming week.
