A Look Back . . . and A Look Forward

A friend asked me tonight how I deal with the early death of a friend of mine. I was able to reflect more on her question after some quiet time at home, and I can now give a more thorough answer.

I met Jennifer in high school. She was kind, and funny, and serious. We soon lost track of each other in the midst of college applications and essays. We went our own ways, eager to begin our adult lives. Fast forward 17 years, and I am reacquainted with Jennifer. Now, she is married and has cancer. I am instantly overjoyed at knowing her again, and laughing with her again. I know she has cancer, she knows I have a rare and incurable neurological disease, and our letters and conversations abound with references to Heaven, wondering what it will be like, and trying to imagine it. For three years, I forget she has cancer. I pretty much forget I am sick. I'm just so happy and thankful to have my friend back in my life. Jennifer died last February, and I still don't really think of her as having had cancer. I mean, I know she did, but if you ask me about her, I'll just smile and tell you how very blessed I was to get to be her friend these last three years.

I bought a copy of Heaven by Randy Alcorn tonight, and I plan to read it this week while Mr. M and I are back east for his grandmother's funeral. The book is so exciting! To think of the New Heaven, where everyone will be able to do what they want and go where they want, without anything to stop them. There will be no danger in travel, no worries about germs or sickness, you can play football without fear of injury, I'll be able to go on vacation without checking to make sure I have enough of the medicine I need. AND, we'll all experience those joys together! This is what God has prepared for those who love Him. This is what Jesus is preparing for us in Heaven. I'll not only see and worship God, but I'll do that together with my mom, and Jennifer, and Abraham and Moses! It is a true marvel to think on all God has waiting for those who are saved. For the present, though, as I meditate on, and marvel at, the promise of Heaven, I do my best in this world, this "anti-Eden", as Jen so often called it. I live in the hope and expectation of the restoration of Eden.

The Benefits

Psalm 103 tells us to praise God for who He is, and to "forget not all of His benefits." One of the greatest benefits of knowing God is being part of His church. I love the church. I love ecclesiology. I have benefitted greatly from being part of the church, and I benefit daily from it. I love God for who He is, make no mistake about that, but I am not unmindful of the worldly benefits I receive from Him daily.

New Adventures, New Pens, New Journal

This weekend will be a big one for the upcoming year of the Grace On Campus Bible study at UCLA. This will mark the beginning of a whole new set of adventures for Mr. M and I. In addition to our UCLA adventures, I will also be having adventures with younger students during the week, while I help my friend in her 3rd grade classroom. I am so excited that I will be needing to start a new journal soon, as my old one is almost full. This coincides nicely with this new chapter in the life of Mr. and Mrs. M.

Before I conclude this post, Rufus insists that I share with you his heroic bravery in the face of a precocious squirrel. This funny little squirrel likes to tease Rufus and test his own bravado by running across the wall of our back yard. Today, Rufus scared him off before he had made it half way, but undaunted squirrel was up for a challenge, and, after a lengthy and silent standoff with Rufus, he made another go for it, and this time he wasn't intimidated by the barking and running of Rufus, and he made it all the way to the other side safely. All so he can do it again tomorrow.

Presssure!

The other day, I had the Queen song by that name in my head because of a slight feeling that the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Today, that song is in my head because I have given in to peer pressure. I am ashamed to admit it, but the boys in the band all made it sound so cool. It seems to be all the rage. I just couldn't take it anymore. I went to the store and bought one . . . a neti pot. It looks like a genie bottle, like Robin Williams will come wafting out and grant you three wishes if you rub it, but instead what you do is put it in your nose. I used to get in big trouble for putting things in my nose when I was younger, but now this seems to be the responsible thing to do. You tilt your head and flush your sinuses, and your life will be tons better, I hear. My only question is, and I need input from the boys in the band on this one, with the water in Santa Clarita, will I get hard water stains in my sinus cavities?

Can water be too wet?

When I was in high school, still going to a Catholic school but reading and studying the Bible enthusiastically, I told my friend that I didn't call the priests "Father" because the Bible says we shouldn't call any man "Father" because our true father is in Heaven. My friend told me I was taking the Bible, and God, too seriously. Too seriously?? God, who created the universe and gave me life, who ordains every single thing that happens every day, and who has complete authority over all of eternity? I was taking HIM too seriously?? It is impossible to take God too seriously.