Sojourner

The Redbud trees in the center lane of the street outside our neighborhood are all in bloom. Meanwhile, in stark contrast, there were giant icicles on my birch tree out front! It was sleeting Monday afternoon, just a day after I had been kayaking in 70 degree sunshine! This is not right. This is teasing and cruel. If Spring is going to come, it really shouldn't pull this nonsense of one glorious tantalizing day of warmth and then yank it back and hibernate for another two weeks. I call, "Foul!"

I meditated on Psalm 119 yesterday. Two verses "spoke" to me. (I hate it when other people say things "speak" to them. It is so cliche. Still, it is what happened.) The psalmist described himself as a "sojourner on earth." I looked up the word "sojourner" to be sure I had the correct nuance of meaning. A soujourner is someone who takes up residence only temporarily.

Like the spring weather this weekend....

This is also a perfect word to describe what we humans are. We are not permanent residents. We are only here for a quick visit on the road to eternity. However, though our visit is temporary, it doesn't mean we shouldn't fill the earth with our presence in all its beauty and wonder. It doesn't mean that our sojourn will be inconsequential to what kind of eternity we are building. It does mean we better figure out quickly why we are sojourning here and make it count. It does mean we shouldn't be surprised when our longing is for permanence. We only long for what we don't yet have.

Like the Spring... 

I am looking out the window at the icicle, which is still not melting.

Psalm 119:19,28

19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
 hide not your commandments from me!
 28 My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!