Thursday, January 24, 2013

Hitting the Trail


“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:1-10 NIV)

“It is time to pull on my hiking boots, grab my backpack, and hit the trail.”

Those were the words of Tom Swift sent out via Facebook this week to all of his friends.  Tom, a friend from my seminary days, wanted to inform us of his impending death from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), a horrific disease he has suffered with since 2007.  An avid hiker, ALS took away his ability to walk almost immediately, then progressively his ability to speak or move any part of his body.  His two daughters conveyed his last message by interpreting his eye movements to spell every letter.  

It is a sad story, but Tom is not sad.  His final words express hope of a new life, unrestricted by disease and sorrow.  Under the relentless attack of ALS, Tom became less at home in his body and more at home in the Lord.  As his body deteriorated, his faith grew.  And as his voice was taken, he began to speak through the written word, providing insight and encouragement to many.  (You can read his writings here.)

Most of us live in denial or fear of death, but one day, sooner or later, it is coming to each of us.  We may not suffer from a terminal illness, but we are on the road to death.  In a fallen world, that is where all roads lead.   But, as Paul and Tom realized, the road is not a dead-end for those who follow Jesus.  Beyond the road of this life is another and it leads us Home, where the lame walk, the mute speak, the blind see.  Where there are no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain.  And they embraced the journey, increasingly looking forward and focusing less on the here and now.  

Tom will soon be hitting the trail, completely healed and totally alive.  It is a day he has longed for and has been promised.   It has been promised to us as well.

Today, embrace it, for your time to hit the trail is coming, too.  And like Tom, you can look forward to it without fear.  

© Jim Musser 2013

(Note: Tom Swift hit the trail on January 24th at 11PM.  Happy hiking, Tom!  I can't even imagine the views you now have!)

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