SPEEDING OUR LIVES AWAY
We travel the same roads often, but with different destinations in mind… I knew the area well, so well that it would be difficult to try to come up with the number of times I drove by that old place. It was a long time ago, but there were years stacked on years that I drove that road multiple times daily.
“Where’s it at?” I asked my wife. “Like 64th and Northern,” she replied, pausing to recall. “I know exactly where that is,” I responded, “I can’t count the number of times I’ve driven passed that place.” My mind raced back rapidly to those days at about the same pace I drove that truck past the old place.
I remember glancing at the grounds as I raced by, I even remember getting held up in traffic by the cars going in and out, but not too often. I didn’t give much thought to dying or death in those days, but then I’d not been to cemeteries too often either. Driving down that road in the industrial section of old Glendale, my destinations were lumber yards and truss plants, but not that day.
I flipped on my turn signal and slowed to turn into the cemetery. I got a closer look at the grounds I’d only been able to glance at while driving at light speed by as a kid. I never considered that I might be pulling into that place so many years in my rear view mirror; a final resting place for soul cages…
My heart and prayers were with our friends who were there to rest their dad’s remains. As I pulled into park I could see through the thick trees the place I’d worked as a young man. I’d been within inches of that place and never really stopped to grasp the situation, I never considered the pain and sadness of the people pulling in and out of that parking lot. My concern was to navigate as quickly as possible around and past the people.
That’s what’s wrong with a big part of our society, people like me, or how I used to be; in a hurry and thinking only of themselves. I know it’s common for younger people, they struggle with grasping that someday their roads will lead them to the same place… the cemetery…
The choices we make, the roads we choose will determine where we end up, the final resting place for our bones is pretty irrelevant. Where our soul resides is the real issue.
The well-groomed green grass and the vibrant flowers look peaceful. The grass, flowers, and kind words written on the head stones can’t reveal if the person whose bones lay below the surface of the earth will have peace or torment. That choice was made while they were on this side of the dirt.
I’m certain that no one would travel the roads of their life and choose a destination other than heaven on purpose… We’d just miss all the signs and turns as we’re speeding our lives away…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 1:59 am
Even as a pastor I sped past places like this,except when I had a reason for going there. As i get older, that place becomes more of a reality but i still avoid looking or driving through. One of these days I will come to a complete stop.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 11:15 am
I guess we all will, Bill. Standing still in one has a way of changing our perspectives I think… but then again, I don’r frequent them like you do… Thank God, literally…
Diane
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 3:20 am
Oh, how I’ve missed your words, Floyd!
What a post! I love this line: “a final resting place for soul cages”… soul cages…yep!
Wow…and I speed my life away…good wake-up call this morning. Thank you.
And I love how you ended this post. It’s so very true…such wisdom in your heart. Thank you for sharing your tidbits with us all. You enhance our lives, Floyd.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 11:17 am
Oh man, Diane. You’re kind heart is a blessing to me. What a gift of encouragement you have. Thank you for sharing it with me and all of us. With a heart like yours, we’re all enhanced. Thank you.
tcavey
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 12:31 pm
Your words are very sad for me today. My best friend’s mom passed away this morning. While I know she’s in heaven, her departure was very unexpected. And as all deaths do, it has shattered the lives of those she has left behind.
I pray we all realize how short life is. We aren’t promised our next breath let alone tomorrow. So many souls who are rushing through life unprepared for what comes next. I pray your post helps wake them.
God bless.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 5:31 pm
I’m sorry for your loss and your best friend’s loss. I’m praying for you and them. I know you’re having your own difficult times right now. Our job is to share with them the truth… May God wake them up.
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 5:10 pm
That final resting place for our bones is not the final place. Fragil bodies turn to dust but our spirits live on going to one destination or the other. Making everything ready now is the only wise choice. It is apparent that the young drive quickly by these cemetaries, without much thought that they too will age and grow older God granting them a long life. Sevemty is the age some say we are allotted. Others say 120 is the time we have to live here. I know the condition my mother was in at 100, so perhaps 120 is too long. We must love those here and show them by our words that they are special as we have those days to do so.
Thanks Floyd for a thought provoking post.
Floyd
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 @ 5:32 pm
Thanks, Hazel. And Amen to your wise words. You always have a way of putting things in the proper perspective.
Audra Krell
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 8:25 am
My grandparents are buried in the Veterans cemetery off the 101, so this was very sad for me too. It felt like I was at the funerals again, from your descriptive writing. My grandma died 11 months ago and my grandpa just three short years. Both really caused me to slow down, as cemeteries are never a place I enjoy being. I still try to get in and get out. Except for their funerals, I wanted just a few more minutes to honor them, together as a family. Praying for all of our lost friends today.
Floyd
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for your heartfelt words today, Audra. It never is enough time is it? I need to slow down myself…
Betty Draper
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 8:53 am
I often walk in the cemetary when I visit my home town. Know so many buried there and I like reading what people put on their toombstones…I know, I know I am a little wierd.
When my Dad died there was lots of family there and my husband gave the plan of salvation at the gravesite…his sister got saved right there. The Word says it’s better to go to a place of mourning then to a place of eating. Everyone gets hit with the realization this life isn’t forever as we stand at a grave. I have stood at the toomb Jesus was buried in and there is a sign on the door, He is not here, He is risen. There is our hope. I have requested the song, “No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down” at my grave site. I am so hoping someone gets saved on that day…
Floyd
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
That is the right perspective for sure, Betty. What an honor to have someone share our life story and legacy which would have to include the truth of God and have someone converted. That is too cool.
It’s a sobering time standing at a grave site. If that doesn’t get someone’s attention I don’t know what is.
Effie-Alean Gross
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 1:25 pm
Floyd,
Your post really makes me think. King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that sorrow is better than laughter, because we consider our end. To come along side someone who is suffering is a ministry…one that our Lord demonstrated for us. Yes, cemetaries reveal something about ourselves: how we feel, what plans for eternity have been made, how we might comfort the living. Great post, Floyd. Thanks.
Floyd
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
Thanks, Effie. I love the wise words. It’s good to laugh, but I guess it’s good to grieve, especially for the lost. Well said.
Jason Stasyszen
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
Wise and powerful words, Floyd. Love that last thought. So many put it out of our heads and don’t want to deal with it, but it’s the unavoidable question. The elephant in the room. We have to choose and not making a choice is still choosing. I choose grace and I want others to see that grace through my life. Thanks.
Floyd
Thursday, October 11, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
Thanks, Jason. That should be the desire of all of us, to have our lives reflect the grace of our Father. Great perspective. You preachers just seem to have a way with words!
Dan Black
Friday, October 12, 2012 @ 10:17 am
This is a powerful statement, “The choices we make, the roads we choose will determine where we end up, the final resting place for our bones is pretty irrelevant. Where our soul resides is the real issue.” It really shows the importance of living each day with purpose and for God because life is short. Great thoughts Floyd.
Floyd
Friday, October 12, 2012 @ 4:27 pm
Thanks, Dan. I need to remind myself of this more often than I should at my age…