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2020 Treasures: Purpose
The saying goes that time flies. My maternal grandmother used to say often, "This too shall pass." But, even as these two sayings are said, in the moment when life's path seems to dead-end, it is difficult to believe that there will be a way forward.
As I prepared to write this post, I thought back to September 2019 when my middle son's life trajectory halted. It dawned on me that time has indeed flown, and many things have come to pass since that day. At the point when his future purpose seemed at a standstill, I realized that the dead end was where he had been. His personal footpath lay hidden in the thorny bramble of cultural chaos and unprecedented unrest. I never would have predicted that during a pandemic he would find a promising purpose!
We have passed the nineteenth anniversary of his diagnosis. I think about the mountains and valleys we have travelled together. I am certain there are more to traverse. It has been a hard road. But, in the process of guiding my son towards his purpose, I realize I have found my own. I would not have chosen this road. Indeed, it chose me. Standing where I am at this point in our journey--looking back and peering forward--I am grateful.
Before time flies on and this moment passes, I simply have to say--as I whispered then in reluctant obedience more so now I sigh with abundant relief--"Yes, Lord! Yes!"
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.