So Long, Farewell, Adios, Goodbye Red River

In the “Sound of Music”, when the Von Trapp family sang that song (with Auf Wiedersehen instead of Adios) as their final number at the German festival, they escaped to freedom in Switzerland. This morning, I, too, am singing that song, but it's not because I'm escaping a negative situation to find freedom. It's because I am saying “So long, farewell, adios, goodbye to Red River, NM.” Also, saying “see ya’ later” because I’ve vowed to come back here where it has been a sweet haven of refreshing from the Texas heat, as well as reconnecting with my cousins after many years -- finding joys in simple walks, talks, excursions, eating, and simply celebrating God’s blessings of life.

I’m so ever grateful to Larry and Staci for giving me this trip that will last a lifetime in my thoughts and memories. I’m posting here some of my favorite memories to take with me! I love this “until next time” sign that we’ll see as we depart for home. And, oh yes, I’m hoping there will be a next time.

Now, here’s the thing. While this was a great week of outdoor fun and family reconnections -- going home is up ahead (just in time for the cooler temperatures there) and I’m as excited to get home to my sweet spot in Frisco as I was to get here. C.S. Lewis once said, “One who has journeyed in a strange land cannot return unchanged.” And, he was right. I do feel changed – refreshed, rejuvenated, filled with the awe and wonder of this last week’s encounters – beautiful people, captivating stories, and encountering Christ everywhere I roamed.

The world tells us to cling to what we find here, to try to find life in the “temporary”. But to quote C.S. Lewis again, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” His quote is, of course, speaking of heaven – and yes, we were made with eternity in our hearts.

In our personal lives, we have all transitioned from one place to another, but I have found that the safest, most blessed place to be on this earth is the constancy of our relationship with God and the solid place that He provides for us on a daily basis. When I’m tempted to whine a little bit because I’m an orphan and a widow going home to my “alone” place again, I always come back to the truth that I am God’s beloved adopted child, and my forever home is with Him. He is my rock no matter where I am or who I’m with.

When my heart might yearn to be back in Red River – a truly sweet spot on this earth, or in Austin with my family there (especially like yesterday which was my son’s birthday) or in Tulsa with my dear friends and family there – I always remind myself to seek my heart’s true home in God. We are called to be strangers and aliens here (1 Peter 2:11), but always loving and blessing the places and people God gives us, because we know we are just passing through. Our aching for home is really our aching to be home with our Savior. That, my friends will be our reality and will forever be our “home sweet home”.

What Distracts Us From Who is Most Important

While taking my 14-year-old grandson to school yesterday, he asked me whether I had read C.S. Lewis' book, "The Screwtape Letters", as it is his required reading for English this semester. I hadn't, though I have great respect for C.S. Lewis' notoriety as one of the premier writers of his times and, even now, his compelling ability to really make us think deeper and open our minds to the idea that Satan is warring daily to distract us from a deeply committed relationship with God. Brennan was endeavoring to convince me of also reading Lewis' "The Great Divorce" that was his summer required reading. Suddenly, this year, he is captivated by Lewis' writings. I love it!

"The Screwtape Letters' gives the correspondence of the worldly-wise devil and assistant to Satan, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood, a novice demon who is in charge of securing the damnation of an ordinary young man (The Patient). Of course, I hadn't read it -- I, who am the "sugar and spice and everything nice" reader by choice. I told him I had judged a student at a Speech & Debate Competition who was performing in the character of Screwtape for his Open Interpretation speech. He was a brilliant actor and in "character" as Screwtape and portrayed him all too well, that I was uncomfortable with the "darkness" he conveyed. I didn't rank him too high because, as a Christian organization, it seemed so foreboding and I suggested, in my notes, that it may be prudent for him to consider the "God" character instead of the "Devil" character.

As I heard Brennan's take on the book and how it had affected him, it made me wish that I had read the book prior to hearing that young man's speech. Brennan explained: "Nana, have you ever been in church and were praising and worshipping God? Your attention was fully on Him, and then the thought comes to you "What should I have for lunch today?"' That is what this book is about -- how the enemy is always distracting us from keeping our attention on God."

"Screwtape tells Wormwood to keep "the patient" from thinking whenever possible since reason will only encourage the patient to accept Christianity with greater fervency. Wormwood should try to prevent the patient from thinking about the history of Christianity, and instead influence the patient to focus excessively on the ugliness and imperfection of his peers and of family, especially his mother.

Brennan's new open mind about a real devil and our REAL GOD made him want to think twice about decisions he makes and the attitudes he has and the way he interacts with others. It made him realize that there is a tug-of-war going on for our souls. John 10:10 says it clearly "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Yesterday, my mind opened a little more to the real possibilities that we are the target of the enemy and if he can devise ways to keep us from the abundant life Christ came to give us, he will. As my Brennan had an "aha" moment with this book and the deeper message within, maybe we should all consider the schemes, plots, strategies and tactical warfare that the enemy of our souls wishes to use against us. Consider it to the point, that he loses, because we are persuaded, convinced, unequivocally on God's side and we will not be persuaded otherwise. "Lord I'm keeping my eyes on you, following you, my Lord!

So Heavenly Minded, No Earthly Good

Clever and catchy cliché, isn’t it?
Heavenly Minded: Having the thoughts and affections on heaven and heavenly things, devout, holy, godly

I confess I said “She’s so heavenly minded, she’s no earthly good” about this super pious Bible college student who stayed in her apartment, fasted and prayed, and studied the Bible all day. At the same time, she hadn’t paid her rent or college fees because she didn’t work to earn an income. She expected God to provide for her since she was devoting her time and life to Him. Whether she was right or wrong in her thinking, how shameful of me to have judged her.

I stand corrected because it occurred to me that this quote may be more accurate than not. In fact, I wish that it were said of me in this way “She’s so heavenly minded, she’s SO GOOD on earth.” Colossians 3:2 says “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth."

When we get ready to go on a vacation, our minds are fixed on where we're going. We count the days. We plan our wardrobe. We calculate the cost and plan the timing. We fine-tune everything at home for being away a period of time. We ask someone to take in our mail and to watch over things while we’re away, and we look forward, with great anticipation to the great time we'll have once we get to our vacation site!

Contrary to popular opinion, being heavenly minded really does inspire us to be more earthly good. So, our goal as Christians should be on planning our one-way trip to heaven, and also to love and faithfully serve the Lord on this side of heaven. C.S. Lewis offered these quotes about heaven:
~ “It’s not that we think about heaven too much, we think about it too little!”
~ “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
~ “The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply, is proof that Heaven must be our home.”

Maybe that little Bible College student needed to be a little more balanced in her desire to please God, but I can’t say those words anymore “So heavenly minded, no earthly good”. Being heavenly-minded, changes our perspective about everything. The fact is one day our heart will stop beating. That will be the end of our body and our time on earth, but it will not be the end of US. Our earthly body is just a temporary residence for our spirit.

In Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose-Driven Life", he says this about heaven: "When we fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and we realize that life is just preparation for eternity, we will begin to live differently.. We will start living in the light of eternity and that will color how we handle every relationship, task and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty and unworthy of our attention. The closer we live to God, the smaller everything else appears. When we live in light of eternity, our values change. We use our time and money more wisely. We place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Our priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions and popular values just doesn’t matter as much anymore."

God has a purpose for our life on this earth, but it doesn’t end here. His plan involves far more than the few decades we will spend on this planet. I’m thinking – I want others to say that about me…..”She’s so heavenly minded – she is earthly AND heavenly good!” How about you?

The Greatest of These is Love

Today, September 11th, 13 years later, we still remember the lives that were lost and the heroes who did what no one thought possible. We remember sacrifice. We remember courage. We remember greatness. And, following in our Master’s footsteps, we choose to love our neighbor, to love our enemies, and to forgive.

C.S. Lewis put it beautifully. “To be a Christian,” he wrote, “is to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven it in us.” We hold forgiveness in our hearts, as we remember that love is greater than hate; that hope is stronger than despair; that vengeance is no match for forgiveness.

Please listen to this Alan Jackson song that causes us to remember and puts into perspective what we should treasure in our lives every day -- "the greatest of these is love"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPHnadJ-0hE