Third Act and Beyond . . .

Do not fear about what waits for us after death. He created us, and if it is His will for our lives to have a "third act", then that is entirely up to Him. We didn't choose to be born (to my knowledge) and it is unlikely we will choose to die. All we can do is make the best decisions about the first two acts, to try to live as He would want us, to treat our fellow players with respect and help in all the ways that we can. The big decisions are up to Him, and it is a comfort that our fate is in the best of all possible hands.

All Things

All things are possible, but only the very best things. We prayed to touch the stars, when in fact He means for us to one day be a part of them.

The Leading Role

You will save yourself a world of heartache and misery by not having too much pride. The person who always tries to outshine others, who must have the best and brightest of everything, the one who is always bragging and boasting and comparing themself to others, will always end up frustrated and unhappy. Better to let others take the center stage, help them, build them up, but never compare yourself to them. In the end, you will be rewarded by having more self confidence and quiet humility because you put the focus on someone else. The one who insists on focusing on self will never know such joy. Their reward has already been given---and will just as soon be taken away--- by the judgement of their own eyes.

The Forgotten Road

Once many years ago, probably around 1997, I had a dream that I was being guided down a road. It was a simple two-lane road with a few hills, and on each side of the road were two bolts of light like lightning shooting down the sides. I have never forgotten this dream, which tells me that it really probably meant something. It is the road that leads to success, to happiness, to Him. Though I have strayed over the years since that dream (often quite a bit), I always picture that lonely road and the lights guiding my way. One day I shall find the road and discover that it leads to the only happiness a human could ever know- back to the one from whence we came.

The Religion of Politics

The one thing we must never do is put all our faith in politicians (God forbid). Those who do, be they democrat or republican, will be ultimately disappointed. They are players on the stage, generally shifting opinions daily based on whatever saves their respective position. The only thing they are suppose to do is represent us. Never put yourself in the position of losing friends, getting in unholy arguments, or blindly supporting them because they happen to be in your chosen party. Remember, they probably don't even know your name, and if you pass on, will never know you ever existed. Are they really worth all the honor or frustration?

The Long Way Home

It may be impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. If it were not so, He would have told us. Take heart, even the worst situations we find ourselves in, those places we have gotten ourselves into and should have known better, the holes we have fallen in because we were determined to go our own way, the shortcut that turned out to be thousands of miles out of the way, none will be of consequence to Him. Trust in Him to lead you up and out, to a new life full of the richness and promise he intended for you. It may take time, but He has eons of it on His side. The clocks in His mansion have no hands, they're merely for decoration.

Hope Springs Eternal

All will not believe, but we must hold on to our faith and live the best we can, so that we are an example to them even without saying a word. Lecturing accomplishes nothing, and sitting in judgement is useless, as we are all worthy of judgement in the end. All we can do is sit by the bedside and pray the patient awakes, for remember we too were once asleep. One day, maybe not even in this life, but eons from now, they will know and believe- all of His mannequins will someday spring to life.

Scales Removed

When we are young, we sometimes let people come in and out of our lives with very little notice. As we get a bit older, the value of friendships and relationships becomes infinitely more important. Slowly, the glasses come off, our vision begins to improve, and we notice more and more. It's something of a shame that it should take so very long to happen, is all.

Treasures

Whatever things you love and cling to here, never hold on to anything so tight that you cannot let go in the end. We may be allowed many mementoes in heaven, but only the ones that we first were able to finally set aside and surrender to Him.

New Chapters

We were never meant to settle quietly into structured, secure lives, thinking that the best times were past and we're now too old for adventures. He means for us to be as prepared to set sail for new lands at 70 as we were at 21. If you are still here you're up for deployment. Always live with your bags packed and your heart open. You never know where He means to take you.

All Roads

Never let it be said that we didn't live up to our full potential, even if it takes some of us a lifetime to make it. There are consequences to taking the wrong road, but thankfully He always offers a way back to the right one. We're never lost for long. At the end of time, when we are able to sit at the stone table and see the map of our lives rolled out before us, we may be in awe of all the paths He created to finally get us Home.