Looking forward always has built-in uncertainties. We all look forward to events or things, but know they might not be like we were expecting or imaginging. I looked forward to seeing Tiger and Rocco in an eighteen-hole playoff at the US Open, but I didn't watch it. I wanted Rocco to win. He had played the most consistent golf. He looked like he was having fun. He hadn't won in over a 100 tournaments. I was pulling for Rocco to win over the greatest golfer in the world. He almost did....but he didn't. There was uncertainty looking forward to the match,
There is also uncertainty looking back. In my forty-minute ride in the back of an emergency vehicle, not knowing for sure what was happening or what would happen when I arrived at ER, was an uncertainty. Looking out the back window, seeing trees and poles and signs go by on a road I had traveled many times before was, uncertainty. Much of my uncertainty involved what I had done in these 76 years here on planet earth. Had I found the niche God had for me? Had I loved my wife and children in the best way? Had I left any lasting impact while here? Had I let the Lord down too many times? Had I lived by His Book? Had I shared His love to others when He opened a door for me to do so? A helpful young man I did not know would occasionaly spurt some nitro under my tongue. He would ask me about my pain. He was working quietly, but not so much with me, so I had a quiet ride of reflection. I worked to recognize poles and signs even though they were backward, to see where we had come to, but it wasn't so easy looking back. They also had those two confounded signs, one on each back window, which kept me from looking back as well as I wanted. There was uncertainty looking back.
I didn't pray alot. I didn't ask God to spare me. I remembered the scripture, "There is a time to be born and a time to die". I certainly wasn't being born so it may be that other time. I would leave that to when God has chosen. A Bible verse did come and stay with me the whole way. It was there at ER. It was with me the next day as the procedure took place. It was with me as a painful and successful effort to stop bleeding at the place where the stent started it's journey to my heart took place. I was overwhelmed by the verse. Want to hear it? You have no choice, for I am sharing it with you right now....THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE. I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. I found great comfort in that verse. Earlier in the day I had rejoiced and been so glad to watch young Emily "fight" a big trout that broke her line just as I prepared to net it. Homer Hanna our guide-friend estimated it was over 20 inches in length. I rejoiced at the beauty of the bay waters and skies and clear viewing into the grass and potholes. I was glad to be able to be where I was on that June 12. Why should I not continue to rejoice and be glad in the day as the events of my life turned a different direction? So, I found a verse that was a blessing in adversity. THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE. I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. I think that speaks of any day and all days for a Believer. Is it a fun day? Not so. Is it my last here on earth? Perhaps. Whatever...God made the day and made my life and made a place for Eternity and each day that I do live simply brings me one step closer to all that He has promised. It took LOOKING BACK through an ER window to more clearly see the present and the future. I hope you might take a look back today in a bit more comfortable setting.
