A bridge can still be built, while the bitter waters are flowing beneath.
~Anthony Liccione
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. … For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in 2 Timothy 4
Oh beloved, it is true.
There are times when we will come to realize that it is time to move on.
Jobs will come to an end.
A military operation may fail.
Trust may be shattered.
Friends or spouses may leave.
Friends or spouses may die.
The things we feared may actually come true.
A company goes the wrong direction.
And all of this is usually terribly painful.
If you have ever been in the terrible panic of a hasty military unit retreat, dragging a wounded buddy – you know.
If you have had your trust shattered by a business or personal relationship – you know.
If you have just failed so badly, that others abandon you – you know.
But, and this is really big; there are two ways to go when it comes to times like this.
Can we see it?
Paul, arguably one of the most important people in the history of mankind, and one of the finest theological thinkers ever, was in a part of his life, where he knew that his life was about to end. This guy had run for years, in the great pursuit of Truth, and in the pouring out of his own life in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
And all of was coming to an end.
Paul had a bit of a dilemma. Can you imagine what he may have felt like once in a while? It was, actually, incredibly unfair what was happening to him. He spent journey after journey serving his Master. And this Master was about to allow Paul to be executed by an incredibly foul and evil emperor, named Nero.
But, instead of getting upset with G_d, Paul uses the opportunity in a dramatic and powerful way. He pens some of his last words to pass the baton to one of his spiritual sons. He is thinking about the continuing mission of the Church, that The Holy Spirit was building throughout an empire that would soon – actually – be overtaken by Truth & Love, instead of the decadent lies of Rome.
Paul’s life was winding down to a beheading. But, he never gave up. No fear. No threats or desires of reprisal. No, Paul simply allowed things to be what they were – but he never quit loving and sharing the rich Gospel of the unfathomable riches of G_d’s Grace and Mercy and Love.
So, are you facing the end of a significant chapter in your life? Maybe you too are coming to the actual end of your life. How will you wind down, as you move on? This fool of a writer is going through this in China. I am being asked to leave, partially because of the Love and Truth i have shared. And you may be being moved on by forces outside of your control too. But, how will you (and i) respond?
Tonight is our night. Time to move on in Grace. For it is surely not time to give up.
The time for saying comes seldom, the time for being is always there.
~ George MacDonald
