Orange Moon Cafe "63"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe… 

          "63"

    

   My paternal grandmother Emmie Davis will always be 63 years old in my mind.  She actually lived until almost 70, but for some reason, I ever remember my grandmother as 63 (possibly because that was her age when I began to enjoy extended visits with my grandparents on their farm).   My memory of her is precious in my heart, and greatly influential to this day.  My grandmother served as one of the most significant people of my childhood.  She was strong, but kind and generous.  I was special to her because her only son Glen (my father) died when he was 37.  I doubtless served as my grandmother's remaining connection to the loved one she lost.  I also have little doubt that her Christian influence played a powerful role in my becoming a believer several years after she went to be with the Lord.

   I thought of her yesterday, having myself reached the age of 63.  I don't feel that old, and thankfully, have no health issues whatsoever.  That's the good part.  However, I don't feel as wise as I might have suspected would be the case by this time of life.  In that regard, I still feel much like a 20 year old (I'm cutting myself some slack and at least am considering myself to have learned a few things beyond my teen years!).  I should possess a whole lot more knowledge, understanding, and wisdom by now, and have no excuse whatsoever for failing to progress unto God's summit of light more than I have.  At the very least, I'm glad to have enough wisdom to realize how far I've lagged, and certainly hope it will motivate me to ascend higher, dive deeper, and fly farther.  Or, as the Apostle Peter commanded, "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).

    At 63, I do see a positive aspect in my awareness of how far I need to go.  Namely, I more realize the infinite and eternal nature of God and His truth.

    "He... is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen" (I Timothy 6:16-17).

   If we ever reach a point with our Lord where we feel like we have discovered much about Him and His truth, we can know something is amiss in our perceptions.  I love the poet Faber's exultant cry regarding such wonder: "Shoreless Ocean, who can sound Thee?  Thine own eternity is round Thee, majesty Divine!"  Regardless of how far we journey, or how deeply we dive, or how high we fly, the Infinite and the Eternal beckon us to press on: "Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).  63 years, despite their honest attempt to illuminate my heart and mind, have not taught me nearly as much as they should have.  But I do know this: with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, no matter how how high, far, or deeply we venture, we've only just begun.  I wrote a poem about this many years ago, one that you've seen in these messages a few times.  It's seem appropriate now, and I'll close with it.

The Journey's Just Begun

There is no end to the quest we know,

forever beckons on.

For we soar in skies so bright and blue,

above all clouds of storm.

Yes, we fly into the heart of God,

as in His Son we trust.

And earth will soon be nothing more

than long forgotten dust.

So spread your wings and catch the wind,

o journeyman of hope.

And race toward horizons blessed

with those who also know,

That the quest of hearts is Jesus,

He is our shining sun.

It matters not how far we've come...

the journey's just begun.

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the igh calling of God in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 3:13-14)

"If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know."

(I Corinthians 8:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

      We give thanks unto God and our Father, praying always for you.

 (Colossians 1:3)

  

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