Yesterday, I started on my way home after two weeks in NY helping my folks choose and then move into their new assisted living facility. I am blessed to have my son residing halfway on the route back home, so got to stop and see him and my wonderful daughter-in-law, and stay in my all time favorite hotel in Richmond. It is a hotel I could never afford normally, but I used priceline.com, named my own price, and got it half price. Score!
I always ask for the highest floor, facing the James River. After seeing my son, I sit in front of the huge window, and watch the sun set over the river. The lights flicker on, and spread out like a whole summer of fireflies at once. It is one of the great pleasures of my life, and I hope my son never moves from Richmond.
However, I cannot base my happiness on this. C.S.Lewis said, "Don't let happiness depend on something you might lose." This means: don't base happiness on anything on earth. Nothing. You might lose health, family, home, fortune, reputation, skills, job, and possessions. Nothing on earth is secure.
Not even the beautiful view from the 16th floor of my favorite hotel.
So where is hope to be found?
There is only one thing we cannot lose. We cannot lose God's love or our eternal salvation when we have accepted the gift of life with Him that He offers. I love this view, as I sit here in front of the hotel room window, admiring God's handiwork. But I will lose it, and that makes me cling to it in an unseemly way, with a mixture of frantic joy and melancholy knowing it will not last. That is true of all the temporary things we hold on to so tightly. They are idols of dust. They will always fade, always disappoint, and ultimately, all disappear. But take heart! God remains, and He is sufficient.
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