On the eve of our vacation I must confess that I am not worthy of the abundance of good things that life has given to me. Like it was said of Job, “Thou madest an hedge about him, about his house, and about all that he hath on every side. Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” My prayer is that should a time fall to us to find ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death a curse will not come quickly to my lips against the Almighty.
One more time and we were permitted to take a vacation with our children. The date was set and yet the exciting moment seemed to be ages in coming. Before departure there was so much to do, details upon details. Thanks to a well organized wife everything was taken care of, packed and ready to go at a minute notice. How much this reminded us of that Great Exodus when Israel were told by Moses to see to every small detail and be prepared to leave at the given signal.
Seating ourselves on the plane we gave a prayer for direction and protection during the next few hours of flight. Man’s wonderful invention, but divine wings would bare us safely to our destination. During such experiences possibly more than at other times we find the tempo of our prayer increases within us. So the prayer born in the plane is carried forward to a beautiful beach in Maui, Hawaii. Looking for the first time across the immense span of blue seas gently fanned by the trade winds our prayer drifted higher and reached out to distant lands for those who shared that glorious hope with us. Praying for the divine love to bring relief to the sick, peace to those disturbed and to renew faith of those whose feet falter in the sand of time like the gentle waves which lap upon the beach.
It is not a proud tongue that says, we know that we are closer to the Kingdom than when we first believed. The day cannot pass, regardless of the hour or how much there is to see and do, without first visiting the sanctuary of the written word to be taught again from the Almighty whose throne is in the heavens above. Sitting under the shade of the majestic coconut tree in the early morning it was fitting that our readings should take us to the Book of Job. “For there is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” “Though the root thereof was old in the earth and the stock thereof die in the ground.” “Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.” Through the scent of the living waters we have been given the opportunity for our conversation to be that which is in heaven. We may be cut down at any time yet we have the assurance that we shall be part of the resurrection.
Under the Coconut Tree
My son discovered that his father’s favorite spot was beneath that great coconut tree with a thousand thoughts and visions of the age to come crowding his mind. What peace, what wonders to behold, yet but a shadow of the glories of that new dawn when the redeemed of the Lord will sit under his own fig tree none daring to make him afraid. Bathed in the splendor of this corner of creation we remember this is how the Almighty wanted this planet from the beginning. He looked upon the earth and saw that it was “very good.” Its only the passing of the whisp of a dark cloud, a police siren that drowns out the sweet song of the bird which tell us we must wait upon the Lord for that time of restitution. Each night we double check our doors of our suite, leaving a hallway light on. For in such an hour as ye think not a thief may enter in. In our lives we must allow the light of the Gospel to shine clearly at all times and lock the vaults of our hearts that one may not enter and steal the crown of Life that has been offered to us by the “King of Kings.”
One thing that always amazes me about people on vacation is how quickly they are willing to lower their barriers of pride, haughtiness, and communicate with others so willingly. Strangers will greet you on the street with a friendly smile and converse with you on the beaches. For a brief moment we become a part of their world. Are we not reapers sent forth to sow ! I always remember a brother telling me he was persuaded to search the scriptures after being impressed by the smiles and happiness of a group of people standing outside of a church.
Be Ready to Give an Answer
How often do we play the part of the backyard disciple. Does the world around us know very little about us and worse still, know less of the ministry which has been trusted to us? “Be ye ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Observing the crowds we realize there is a fashion that brethren and sisters should adopt. There is a craze for holiday makers to wear tee shirts advertising the university of their choice, their favorite hockey team, or the name of their employer. The Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The Pharaohs of old engraved their ornaments and clothes with the god of gods that they worshiped and supported. Even in death they identified with them.
After the ascension of Christ his supporters were seen everywhere preaching the message that had been left to them. Soon they were nicknamed “Christians” or “The King’s men.” In baptism we have the name of our King engraved upon our hearts. With the passing of time that name can become erased very easily. There should be seen a people moving throughout the land with that Name which is above every name clearly seen across their hearts.
Though we were on vacation we could not escape the reality of life. The news media reminded us of the evil present in the land. Wherever we went hawkers tried to persuade us to become involved in investments, the buying of gold. A good deal and one here that we cannot possibly refuse. All this reminded me of the young boy who had waited all year for the circus to visit his town. His biggest desire was to see the performance under the big top. When the great day arrived, with money in hand, he paid and went into the circus grounds. On either side were hawkers persuading him to take only a few minutes out and a few cents to see one of the wonders of the world. By the time he had reached the big top he had spent all his money and was not allowed inside. “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we may receive a full reward.” (2 John verse 8.)
Like the pebbles on the beach, a thousand lessons are available for one who is an observer of life. A father relaxes on the beach in the warmth of the sun, his vacation dream fulfilled, while his son build’s his dreams and ambitions in the sands. The clumsy, unguided feet of a passerby bring ruin to his project so quickly. If resolved, he will brush away the tears and build again but it’s not always that easy. Can this happen in the Ecclesia, a careless word, a thoughtless act, the rough handling of a brother in our zeal to move along the beach of time. It’s a small insect that starts the fall of the giant tree in the forest to the ground.
The sun sets on our vacation, we return to our own valley even more convinced that there is a Creator in the Heavens above, a loving Father who cares for His children in so many ways. May our new resolution at our return always be with us, to tell people that there is a Lord who is in His Holy Temple, let all the earth keep silence before him.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One