“The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert
Cue the music for “The Final Countdown” and then read on. From the very moment of our conception, we began a series of countdowns. Our first countdown was from conception to birth. Actually, that was not the first countdown, for there were many along the way. We had a a countdown to the first multiplication of our cells, a countdown to the formation of our bodies, a countdown to our first heartbeat, a countdown to many things. However, that “big” countdown — birth — was something that was celebrated with great joy by so many people.
After our birth, we began new series of countdowns: the first time we rolled, the first time we crawled, our first steps, and so on. Later, new countdowns came to play: our first time at school, our first graduation, our first day of high school or college or grad school, and our first job.
From there, the countdowns got more complex and carried even greater rewards: things like our first raise and our first promotion.
After that, the countdowns began to wind down rather than up. We began to look forward to our last day of projects, our last job, our last day of work. We knew that it was setting us up for a couple of “big” countdowns: our retirement from our job and our retirement from this earth.
Yes, the Lord will call us all one day and we have to be prepared for the ending of that countdown. But, on the positive side, the end of that countdown will begin a final countdown: the first day of eternity. There will be no more countdowns then. There will be nothing but bliss and love and peace.
Look ahead with confidence. The Lord has got each of us in the palm of His hand.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for all of those who are not prepared for the Lord’s call, that they may receive the grace they need to make themselves ready.