What if the time really is short?
It's a funny thing, sometimes, going back to the state you hail from after an absence...you notice different things than you saw before...and I'd wager to say that the amount of time this phenomena lasts is directly proportional to the amount of time you have been away...but I digress.
I was recently in back in Oklahoma and had an interesting experience at a local Christian bookstore. (Certain other friends of mine may be familiar with this particular store.) I was almost aimlessly browsing through the book section (my absolute favorite, though followed closely by the music section) for a "curriculum" for a Sunday School class. (For those of you who didn't grow up in a denomination, "Sunday School" is akin to "cell groups" only they happen at the church building/location on Sunday.)
Being the happy researcher that I am, I endeavored to use all available resources: I asked a helpful-looking elderly gentleman wearing a store nametag. (Bingo!) He directed me to a shelf (a SHELF!!) of such materials, and then launched into a long-winded discussion on the types, kinds, and dates published of said materials.
But the part of this education which struck me was when he mentioned that there was no curriculum for "older Christians." "You know," he said, "the ones who've TAUGHT these classes for 15 years, who could probably find any verse blindfolded, etc." Then he went on to say, "It could have a section on planning spiritual retirement. Now we have time to do all the things we always WANTED to do for God..."
And the thought almost took my breath away.
How does this happen? However difficult it is to discern the desires and plans of God, surely it is worth pursuing. I know, I know, the power of the ordinary...desire to provide, have a family, etc...but I wonder if some of the average Christians we see are plodding through their days, are trying to ignore (or perhaps, after years of trying, successfully ignoring) the "dream they once had."
There are few people able to hold these things at bay. Most of us forget the prophecy (see Cair Paravel and the four thrones) or dream we had once if too much time elapses. We become driven, instead, by those things which I DO think CAN be wonderful: the ordinary.
Most of us, instead, decide that "the dream" is best left for another day. I don't think people should all run, unprepared (spiritually, mentally, physically, etc) into, say, the mission field. But I DO wonder if many need to take a second look at this prevalent concept of spiritual retirement.
Why is it we lull ourselves into this notion of "having enough time"? Oh, I'll do that AFTER I graduate/get married/have and raise children/make more money... (ad nauseum). (See Luke 9:57-62).
Maybe Jesus was right. Maybe we do need to throw ourselves wholeheartedly into pursuit of Him (even if that means "just" actively seeking His will). Maybe we need to press on even when His answers don't come right away. Maybe having our hearts really open to His leading will position us for His answer. Maybe we need to look again at our priorities.
What if it's true? | 
