From Birth to Death

"So take heart, my friend. God is in full control. Nothing is happening on earth that brings a surprise to heaven. Nothing is outside the scope of His divine radar screen as He guides us safely home. Things that seem altogether confusing, without reason, unfair, even wrong, do indeed fit into the Father's providential plan." -- Our devotion this morning.

Our plans change. I would have been in the springlike air of North Carolina this morning. Instead, Rich and Sheila have come up here. My dad is dying. Family has gathered around. It's an awesome and inspiring thing to behold. Strange as it may seem, it reminds me in so many ways of the six births I have been privileged to observe in recent years. The waiting, the watching, the stages, the pain, the anticipation, the curiousity, the body changes--the wonder of it all. And even though we aren't privileged yet, to see it from the dying one's point of view, we know that this "labor" will end up with a miraculous, awesome, unfathomable, eternal life -- the Father's providential plan.

The other good news in all of this-- if God is at work in the very beginning stages of our lives, and in the very end stages of our lives, we can know without a doubt, that He is with us in every moment in between. For those who travel through trials along the way--such as sickness, job loss, mental anguish, etc....etc....etc...--God is there with his divine, eternal, perfect vantage point.