Shade Tree Wisdom 11/1/08

Strange, how a line from ones reading suddenly jumps out and strikes a cord. Recently in my reading a man in the story loses his wife and new born child thorough one of those senseless, and tragic accidents. It had been a happy marriage. He was climbing the corporate ladder and the future looked so bright. Friends commiserated and tried to console him, but gradually he drew into himself, and his work became his obsession. His best friend tied hard to take him to social events, or neighborhood meetings. Nothing. He worked seemingly 18 hours a day.

Then one day the friend, in worry and fretting, said this:
“Fred, find something to believe in, other than your work. Because when you leave this life, you leave work behind. If that’s all you have, then you have Nothing, and Eternity is a long time for nothing.”

Today is All Saints Day, in which we remember those who have died. In heaven St. John looks, “and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb.” (Rev.7,9).

Christians belong there. In Baptism they have become one of Christ’s Own. We use the phrase, “Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified."

The mark of Christ is on us, and by His grace we receive this heavenly peace.

I remember as a young child standing at the graveside with my parents and others and singing “Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben”. You will find it # 759 in LSB. The hymn expressed the hope we all have because of our faith.

“Thou hast redeemed us by Thy death
From endless death and set us free,
We laud and praise and worship Thee.”

Yes indeed, Eternity is a long time for nothing. Thank God we have something, a Savior with precious promises.

GPD 11/1/08