Head in the Clouds
Do you have all your affairs in order?
Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. - 2 Peter 1:12-14
In today's reading, Peter is near death. He has been given insight into his last days in a vision from Jesus, and he is getting his affairs in order.
He writes a letter to the believers to remind them of their faith.
You know these things, but I want to remind you before I go, he tells them.
If you were about to embark on a long journey, what would you remind your children of before you go? What would you write them or tell them? How would you do it?
Would you leave a note, send an email, make a video, post something on Facebook?
How would you make sure they saw it?
We have so many ways to communicate today, I wonder if we can count on any one to get our message across, especially to a busy and seemingly disinterested generation.
When I was clearing out my mom's house, I came across letters my dad had written to her when he was in the Army. There were also hand written plans both of them had prepared for the classes they taught. There were address books and photographs, note pads and cards they had received for birthdays and holidays.
The record of their lives was laid out on paper. It was easy to find, easy to read.
What will our children discover about us when we die? Will they have access to the cloud to get our pictures, emails and documents?
We live today with our heads in the clouds. Literally, all we do and know is stored somewhere out there. Ironically, we worry that others may access this stuff, so we seek to keep it safe, encrypted and secure.
But the ones who need to find it when we are gone, may never even know where to look.
So, if we do have something important to say to our children and their children, what should we do?
One thing I have discovered in this digital world we live in is that the best way to communicate is in person, face-to-face. Memories last longer than pictures in the cloud.
We all have a vision from God of our death, but we often push it away, not wanting to think of it. It is sad, in a way, because each day is filled with opportunities to say and do those things we could be doing with those we love, but we put them off, waiting for the perfect time, when we have the time.
When is that going to be?
If I live my life with my head in the clouds, how will anyone ever find me?
So, rather than make a list of all my passwords and leave it to chance to find my message, I had better take the time now to just tell them how much they mean to me, how much I love them, and everything I want them to know they can learn by me doing and living the example I was meant to be.
If not now, when?
More to come...
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