FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16,, 2024 - JOURNEY

 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2024, WHERE ARE YOU GOING

I was reminded the other day that we are all on a journey.  The end of that journey is known.  All of us are going to end in death.  (I’m not too sure that is very comforting).

Some aren’t worried about that.  Let’s amass a huge fortune - “eat, drink, and be merry.”

Luke 12:16-21 (The Message version)

“Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight, you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’ “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”

Yes, we need to work - but this story is more about greed than the journey of life.  

I’ve been working at a senior community for 2.5 years.  In particular, the last 1.5 years have been in the nursing home of this community.  There is no need for the clients to have money here.  Their meals are paid for, their rooms are paid for, the nurses are paid for, and the laundry is paid for.  If the client needs something, there is an account for spending money on new pajamas or clothes.  Many clients' expenses are paid for by Medicare or their families.  There are no purses, no billfolds (that I see anyway).  The residents seem to know they are on a one-way road with only one exit (death).

Some of these were like the rich farmer in the parable above.  They spent their life amassing wealth.  But they can’t take it with them.  I have no idea about heaven or hell, but I doubt that there are banks there (And if there were, they wouldn’t take American Dollars, European Euros, or Japanese Yen.)

One of my good colleagues liked to say: “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

*****

But, each is on their own journey. Some will arrive at that endpoint in their 20s - from car crashes or drunk drivers; others might arrive at that endpoint in their 90s - still exciting and mentally sharp.

A friend posted this on Facebook:  “When we die, God isn’t going to ask us about the two men down the street who got married.  He won’t ask us about the girl who had an abortion.  He won’t ask us about the atheist who lives on the corner (or the Muslim who lives in the same apartment building).  He won’t ask us about the man who became a woman.  He won’t ask us about the people at the border wanting to enter our country.

He will ask us how we loved those people as He called us to do.  (And, some of us didn’t).”

***

Grandland Rice wrote: “For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game!” 

Did you play the game with malice - or with love?  

*****

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne, White, ©, February 16, 2024

(Of course, if you don’t know where you are going, you’ll never get there!!!)