Reflections

The holiday season generates lots of memories--family times in years past, friends who have traveled life's road in a different direction, and those who have gone on ahead.  Each brings thoughts of joy, sadness, but always gratitude for the times shared.

I've been in a reflective mood these last few weeks as I've said good-bye to two more friends who left this world; and two other dear friends are dealing with serious life-altering medical conditions.  It makes me think again how very fortunate I am to have them in my life, and how grateful I am for that same life.

Pastor Myron's sermon this past Sunday was eerily appropriate--"Are You Prepared?"  As this is the season of Advent in our church year, I assumed his message would focus on our preparations to celebrate the birth of Christ.  However, he took a diffrerent slant on the message to focus on our preparation for the second coming of Christ.  He noted how it seems so much is wrong in our world today and how much of it seems to relate to the Biblical predictions in Revelations as to the state of the world when Christ comes again.  He referred to the preponderance of violence in our world, the decline in morality and honesty, the concentration on material possessions, the disintegration of our society in general. 

Add these thoughts to the Dec. 21, 2012, predictions from the Mayan calendar, and it does cause one to consider seriously:  Am I really prepared for the end of all things?  Certainly puts our simple concerns of everyday life into perspective.

I'm not a doomsday proponent, but I am thinking more and more these days about what's really important in my life . . . what I hold dear . . . who I hold dear . . . and what I want to do about those two.  Haven't made any life-changing decisions, just thinking.