THE OPEN ROAD

BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES 538

9/15/2018

   BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES

Thomas Carlyle once referred to this life as
  "a little gleam of time between two eternities."

Some might debate as to whether we lived
before this earthly life. But, we think it is safe
to say we are not at the same place we were
ten, twenty of thirty years ago.

Everyone of us continues to march relentlessly
into the future, Oh, there is plenty of foot dragging
to be sure. But, time carries us ever onward at her
measured pace, even as we try to stall.

And, old questions keep coming back to mind...
What shall we do with the little gleam of time
that remains for each of us? for us all? How
  shall we redeem the time remaining?

That second timeless eternity is close at hand.
It may be difficult for some of us to determine
where we've been or what we may have
accomplished, but it is in the power
of our wills for each of us to determine
where we shall go from this point on.

(First published on October 12, 1978.
Slight revisions made on September 15, 2018)

ISAIAH 44:3,6,21,22,23

9/15/2018

ISAIAH 44:3,6,21,22,23

For I will pour water upon him
that is thirsty
and floods upon the dry ground

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed
and my blessing upon thine offspring

Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his redeemer the Lord of hosts

I am the first and
I am the last
and beside me there is no God

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel
for thou art my servant
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten
of me

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud
thy transgressions
And as a cloud, thy sins
Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee

Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it
Shout, ye lower parts of the earth
Break forth into singing, ye mountains
O forest, and every tree therein
for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob
and glorified himself in Israel

IN STILLNESS 167

9/15/2018

  IN STILLNESS 167

"The ant," wrote Clarence Day
is knowing and wise, but he
doesn't know enough to take
a vacation."

The worshipper of energy and
hard drive is too physically energetic
and on the move to see that he
cannot explore certain higher realms
until he takes time to be still.

In stillness...
We may hear a robin sing
We my let our thoughts take wing
We may rest from labors done
We may count our victories won
We may prepare for another day
We may encourage our souls to pray
We may polish up our shields
We may seek the higher fields
In stillness, we may slow down
and love

(First published on May 13,1976.
A few revisions were made on
September 15, 2018)

WE HEAR AMERICA SINGING 168

9/9/2018

WE HEAR AMERICA SINGING

   We hear America Singing
Songs of grateful hearts
Melodies of good cheer
Hymns of faith and hope
Tunes of patriotism dear
We watch America working
To keep freedom's beacon burning
As we add another log
To the fire of liberty
To light our way through the fog
And to set the captives free
  We witness America praying
For a return to our forefathers’ faith
For more trust in a God that’s true
For more reliance on his Spirit
For his grace to see us through
We hear America singing
Every mountain rings with laughter
Every forest sings songs of kindness sown
Every valley echoes praises joyously
Every flower of the field whispers
your deeds are known

   (Written on May 16, 1976 #168)

SPIRITUAL RX #537

9/9/2018

SPIRITUAL RX #537

For the fourth time now, we reach
  into the Psalms for some powerful remedy,
  some miraculous balm for the ills of our time.
  And again, we do not come away empty handed.
  The following is strong medicine.

Psalm 3:4... "I cried unto the Lord with my voice
and he heard me out of his holy hill."

Psalm 4:4... "Stand in awe, and sin not:
  commune with you own heart upon your bed,
  and be still."

  Psalm 23:4... "Yea, though I walk through
  the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me."

Psalm 25:4... "Show me the way, O Lord; teach me
thy paths."

Psalm 34:4... "I sought the Lord, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 37:4... "Delight thyself also in the Lord:
and he shall give me the desires of thine heart."

Psalm 70:4... "Let all those that seek thee rejoice
  and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation
say continually, let God be magnified."

Psalm 91:4... "He cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall
be thy shield and buckler."

Psalm 96:4..."For the Lord is great, and greatly
to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."

Psalm 100:4... "Enter into the gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and
bless his name."

(First published on October 10,1975)

ISAIAH 43:19,21,25

9/9/2018

ISAIAH 43:19,21,25

Behold, I will do a new thing
Now it shall spring forth
Shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way
in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert

This people have I formed for myself
They shall shew forth my praise

I, even I, am he that blotteth out
thy transgressions for my sake
and will not remember thy sins

JAN

9/5/2018

  JAN

To a friend, too quickly gone.
Every Thursday afternoon, Jan
would preside over a small
assembly of middle-age and older
women, including my wife, Donna,
and teach them how to make
ceramic and porcelain dolls.

But, these women also attended
  each week because they enjoyed
the camaraderie and sociability
found at Jan's studio.

Jan was married for 65 years to
"Dick" Finnerty. Together they
had 6 children, 26 grandchildren
and 22 great grandchildren.

Jan leaves behind many that
regret her departure. May you,
Jan, find much joy and happiness
in your new life.

(Madeline Janett Finnerty 1938-2018)

ISAIAH 43:11,12,13,15

9/2/2018

ISAIAH 43:11,12,13,15

I, even I, am the Lord
and beside me there is
no savior

I have declared and have saved
and I have shewed, when there
was no strange god among you
therefore you are my witnesses
saith the Lord, that I am God

Yea, before the day was
I am he
And there is none
that can deliver out of my hand

I shall work and who shall
turn it back

I am your Lord
Your Holy one
The creator of Israel
Your king

TO BE POLISHED #536

9/1/2018

TO BE POLISHED #536

       An unknown writer has written...
  "A gem cannot be polished without friction
nor a man perfected without trial."

We seem to be living in a age of friction
caused by numerous buffetings and trials.
And, with so many rough, jagged edges
sticking out, our polishing process is,
   at times, a teeth gritting experience.

We get tired of rubbing up against the grinding
wheel, but we suspect the buffeting shall continue
so long as we refuse to shine as we should.

Polishing pains like growing pains proberly
shall remain with us most of our days.

Alas, polished perfection does not come easy.
                               (First published on October 8, 1978, #536)

THE COST OF TIME #164

9/1/2018

  THE COST OF TIME #164

                                        An old Chinese proverb reads,
                                        "An inch of gold will not buy
                                        an inch of time."

                                        Just for the fun of it, we turned
                                        this epigram over to a good friend
                                        of ours who works at NASA, and who
                                        boggles our mind with his calculating ability.

                                        Using the speed of light to estimate a
                                        second of time, and a cubic inch of gold
                                        valued at $130.00 an ounce to estimate
                                        the cost, he came up with the following
                                        evaluation...

                                        $1,450.15 will not buy us 16.9 trillionth of a
                                        second of time. Or...
                                        One second of time would cost us...
                                        8.58 trillion dollars.

                                        Time really is precious, isn't it!

                                        How fleeting are the seconds
                                        How golden is the time.
                                        Make each moment worthy
                                        And every act sublime.

(First published on 6 May 1976,
#164 with some revisions made
on September 2, 2018)