The funeral for my neighbor was yesterday (Sunday). While I didn’t know her all that well, I wanted to pay my respects and attend the visitation and service. She was a lovely lady and always very kind to me. Just before she became ill and hospice care began she called me in a “tizzy” because her garage light had gone out. She wanted me to go to the Dollar Store and by a specific type of bulb and then bring my ladder over and change it. I did that (although I had a bulb handy) and it was not problem.
My memory is of all the times she would sit out on her front porch. She loved watching the world go by, and talking to her friends or family on the phone she always kept near. As I entered the church yesterday I was thinking of all of this and the times I missed not sitting with her. I don’t get enough “lawn chair” time in my life. She would invite me over, as she was often joined by extended family and friends. I’d usually decline saying I wasn’t feeling well or had a commitment. I could have gone over and relaxed with them and I wish I had done that more often.
I can’t go back and change any of that, I can only go forward. I can learn from the past and use that to make a difference in the way I spend my evenings, in getting outside in the lawn chair and continuing to love and serve my neighbor. I have another neighbor who is in poor health and I think tonight I’ll take over a meal and some flowers. Just to let her know I’m praying for her.
It’s the same thing in our spiritual journeys. We can’t go back, we can only learn from the present and use that learning to move us forward. We are always moving….and I prefer to think of myself as moving forward rather than backward. Isn’t that why our front wind shields are so large compared to the rear-view mirror? I hope and pray today you look forward with joy and hope in the Lord, my neighbor did and she’s moved forward to her ultimate Home!!
Peace,
Pr. Doug
NLS SD
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
