It has been an interesting experiment. In the last year I have shared my love of music, the outdoors and my faith in Jesus. And even shared some of my old artwork, and my feelings as I went through the loss of my father. But the experiment has to come to an end. The blog while a release for my creative expression has taken time away from me being the father, husband, and leader of my home. So it is time I practice what I preach and prioritize my time for the more important things. I will leave the blog up so the music and other things will still be available. At the end there was an average of 8 or 9 visitors at every moment during the day and people coming from around the world to the tune of a couple of thousand a day.
Over the last year there have been many events but the loss of my father stands out for me. Thanks to all who prayed for my father, my mom and my family during that tough time. When people pass away we are reminded of the grim fact that we all are going to eventually come to an end. That realization can leave us with a hopelessness and emptiness when we realize there is no true lasting value in much of the things we work for.
If I could leave you with one last thought it would be that though there is despair and hopelessness in death, there is a place to find hope. It is the fact that 2000 years ago a man made a promise. He predicted that He would be put to death and put in a tomb, but he would return to life in three days as a sign to us all. Jesus did just that and it shook up the world and is still shaking up the world today. And in that kept promise He lead the way for us all to defeat death too. Because He made another promise that those who believe in Him and choose to place Him as Lord in their lives shall also be resurrected and have everlasting life.
What will that look like? Well when Jesus came back we saw that relationships still mattered in fact he asked Peter three times "Do you love Me?" In the end that's what it may be all about. Relationships and how we impacted others may be about all there is that is lasting of these short lives we live.
Being a follower does not come with a promise of an easy life. In fact it comes with trials and hardship and suffering, but in being a follower there will be purpose and meaning found in our difficult times. And those things will be used and turned to good to grow us and change us and shape us into something better. Hopefully we get changed into someone who is better at this relationship thing, because we will be together for eternity we will need to be good at it I guess.
If you are on standby for a flight wondering if you are going to get on the flight it can be very unsettling, but once you have that boarding pass in hand you can rest and relax. Well I'm happy to say I have my boarding pass for that "final flight" and I can take rest in that realization. But for those who don't isn't it time to get it in order, because this is one flight we just never know when it departs. Could be tomorrow!
Adios and Happy Trails!
Thanks for all who came here and I hope there has been some value in this little experiment.
Bless Ya! from Arizona Jones
All Over Now Baby Blue
