STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND

Someone once said, "we are all strangers in a strange land." The Apostle Peter called us "sojourners" or "travellers" just passing through. The body is a temporary shell and our existence a fleeting moment in eternity. I once wrote in a journal, "Now I know why it's so hard to fit the pieces of life's puzzle together—they don't fit." I was thinking about the fact that I am not made for THIS world. I'm just passing through. Quoting Peter again he says, "during the time of your stay on earth." It's pretty obvious he's referring to a "visit" not a permanent encampment. It does change your perspective when you think of it in those terms. If I'm really designed to exist in ANOTHER place, then I have to look at this place through a different lens. I know everyone doesn't share that perspective, but for those who do, some of life's mysteries begin to unravel. If I'm passing through then where I live is more like a tent than a fortress. If there's a place of eternal life, then my preparations for that place are more important than my vain attempts to make this place perfect. There's something in my soul that connects with that truth. We look around and we can see that nothing lasts very long. The interesting thing is I'm always choosing on two levels. One level impacts this world and the other impacts the next. The choosing shapes the being, which delivers the strength to weather the storms of life. The learning helps with humility which opens the door to understanding. It's like a slow motion blink of an eye nestled in a boundless eternity. With that in mind, I face the joys and sorrows of this temporary thing called life! A popular song in the sixties asked the question, "Is that all there is?". The song was about life and the things that promise joy but ineveitably fail to deliver. The answer to the question is no. That's not all there is. And that makes all the difference in how I face each day.