What am I captivated by?

Every year at BFA, the chaplains chose a spiritual theme and a verse that helps set the course for Chapels and spiritual conversations. This year, after prayer and reflection, captivated was chosen along with a verse from John 10:10. 
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees about how He is the Good Shepherd and what that means for their and our lives. 

I am captivated by stories. One of the highlights from childhood is when we would pack up our van and drive the 5 hours (4 hours without kids, but we would stop for a picnic) from Watertown, SD to McIntosh, MN which is in Northern Minnesota. My dad grew up outside of McIntosh on his parents farm and we would spend several days with my grandparents and uncle Ben. When we arrived, we were greeted with a warm hug from grandma, grandpa and uncle Ben along with grandma's best molasses cookies, cold water from the fridge, Norwegian jokes from grandpa and my brother, Nathan showing uncle Ben his latest technology (a Walkman at the time). 

Our time spent at the farm was restful yet we also found fun things to do. Climbing in and out an old combine, getting tractor rides from grandpa and motorcycle rides from uncle Ben, cooking meals and cookies with grandma (mostly me), watching grandpa tinker in his shop (mostly brother Daniel), watching Victor Borge videos (the same one each time) and laughing like it was the first time, looking at old photo albums and hearing stories of when grandpa and grandma were kids (crazy stories of grandpa and sister, Christine playing tricks on each other!) and eating meals of meat, mashed potatoes, gravy, some vegetables like peas, jello salads (if you can call strawberry jello with fruit and whipped cream a salad) and desert (cause that jello salad is a salad and not desert!). 

My favorite times at the farm were when my uncle and aunt, David and Miriam, were home from Nepal where they served as missionaries with my cousins, Kayla and Jonathan. Nathan, Daniel and myself would beg for Dad and uncle David to take us into these woods in the back that were across a dirt field. Kayla and Jonathan came as well and maybe my brother Joshua when he was older. After warnings from grandma to watch out for bears and moose, we would hike across this dirt field and enter into these wild woods. We picked wild grapes and got all purple, cross a small river on a log, and knock down the Sycamore trees. All the while, hearing my dad and David tell stories of their childhood and friends and neighbors who most were long gone (moved away or passed on). The stories were engaging as dad and David shared back and forth as they recalled events that took place from a bully on the bus, the location of the school house where grandpa went to a lady who was a teacher in another state and would come home to prepare meals for her bachelor brothers in the summer. We would explore a few abandoned barns and sheds while dad and David would share stories of who lived there once upon a time. There was wonder, laughter and sorrow of good times that were no more. 

As is the Norwegian way, leaving took about an hour to leave as grandpa, uncle Ben and uncle David would continue to talk with my parents as we slowly moved out to our van. Grandpa would swing us around (in his 70's!), grandma would keep giving a last hug, and they all took turns jumping on our bumper shouting "One more thing!" (grandma didn't do this, she just watched, laughing). When we were finally driving down the driveway, that feeling of homesickness would creep in. It would be close to a year before we would return. Our cousins would be heading back to Nepal and we probably wouldn't see them again for about 2 years. We had to return to our home yet there was a yearning for more time with family. 

Last Sunday, pastor Stephen spoke from Revelation 21: 1-4
'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."'

He gave three reasons why we can be excited about heaven and the third and best reason is God! God will be there and be with us. It's hard now to imagine what it will be like to be in God's presence yet at the same time, we know there will be peace, rest and a feeling that we are finally home, with God. 

It made me think of Adam and Eve in the garden. Chapter 3 in Genesis has God walking in the garden during the cool of the day and looking for Adam and Eve. He had a sweet relationship with them that unfortunately was broken by their sin. I thought of Enoch who walked with God and was no more as God took him. The relationship that Moses had with God; writing down the history of God's people and the laws God had for Israel. Elijah's relationship with God as he goes before kings to warn them of coming judgement. Hannah as she desires children then when blessed with a son, gives him, in faith, back to God. David, who sins greatly yet repents from the heart and his relationship with the Lord is restored. Mary, when she is told that she will carry and deliver the Christ child, says, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." She knows that God is trustworthy and that his plan for her life is good. Because of their relationship with God, these individuals, amount many others lived their lives in peace even in the midst of trials, persecution, war and sickness. In this life, we will walk through deep valleys as David talks about in Psalm 23. But, we aren't walking through those valleys alone. God is with us and when we are living in his presence, we are at home. 

We still have heaven to look forward to where there will be no more sin, crying, pain or sorrow. While we are on this earth, we live in a dark and evil world. We cannot return to the past or undo past mistakes. We can trace every sin, personality disorder and trial back to the existential homesickness - the home we lost in the garden. When our relationship with God is restored and refreshed, we find that He is our home - a place of protection and peace. We can rest and sleep in the boat while in the middle of a storm, knowing that we are in His presence. 

This all makes me think of the hymn, In the Garden. If you have never heard of it, I will post the lyrics here and a link to George Beverly Shea (one of my parents favorite singers) singing this hymn. 

What am I captivated by? I am captivated by Christ; and all the thousands of ways that Christ is working in my life. Some of which I am aware and many more that I don't know. I can rest in Him and have peace that He knows my past, present and future. As I live my life with Him, I am in His presence and I am home. 

I come to the garden alone

while the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me

And He talks with me

And He tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing (Refrain)

I stayed in the garden with Him

Though the night all around me is falling

But He bids me go, through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling