This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue…

For some very good reasons this song (without the twang) has been on my mind today. Some dear friends lost parents to chronic illnesses. Another friend is facing a long haul towards recovery after surgery. Still another friend had a sudden heart attack and got a “wake up call” he really didn’t want.

These sudden emotional shocks to my system mean that I also do a quick self-assessment — am I hung up on “things” and “titles” and “roles” in this life? Have I set aside the “stuff” that hinders my relationships and my God-time? More often than not, the answers don’t please me.

When the barrier between heaven and earth seems so very thin, my heart hurts for my friends who are hurting. And I am reminded yet again that I am not a permanent resident here…

Maranatha…