Thursday, November 09, 2017

My Survival

Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

SURVIVAL

My survival will be the life of me and the eventual death of me. I strive every waking day to be a vibrant life force in the world but sometimes my immediate surroundings and events throw a pebble into the smooth running cog. One minute I’m a peppy go-getter ready to tackle the world and in the blink of an eye I can turn and wonder what all this struggle is for, what purpose and to what end.  I read something yesterday about this path in life being the path we were destined to be on, good and bad, it is our path laid out for us. I know where the path leads but getting there is no walk in the park, that’s for sure.

I really feel sorry for the folks skipping down the path on their merry way thinking this is all that there is and just keep going until they hit a dead end. They neither care for the in-betweens, are blind to the beginning and end of the line, or they just can’t be bothered, they’re here to live and die. Well, that sounds like a fulfilling life.

Had it not been for this disease, I would still be skipping down the path, if truth be told. I would’ve never had a reason to fight to stay alive but this illness brought me to a juncture in my path and colored it with purpose. I’m not staying alive for anyone around me, that to me is pointless, I’m surviving for the end of the line, where I meet the face of Jesus. All this in between stuff is to show you the strength and determination that resides in people with a purposeful end-of-the-line view. 

My sister had an incident a couple of weeks ago where her outside electric box was shooting sparks. Fearing for the loss of everything she began gathering pictures and stuff that had meaning to her. The fire department came and said the electric company would have to come out and put a new box in. My sister, needless to say, slept in her car with her stuff until the next day when the electric company came. 

Maybe it is just me who is unattached to stuff but I thought if something like that happened to me, I’d grab my writing. I couldn’t think of anything else, nothing came to mind. On Sunday when we went to see his family, I looked around at the hundreds of pictures lining the walls. This family is all about pictures. When we were getting ready to literally walk out the door we were stopped by the words, “Let’s get a picture.” The picture wanted was not of hubby and me but of all of those who were there.

Four different people wanted pictures (I wasn’t one of them) and we had to stand and allow four different cameras to click a shot. Twenty minutes later we were finally heading out the door. I scratch my head thinking what is it? I don’t like my picture being taken for one, and also, there is more to life than pictures. Sure you get a snapshot of a memory but what for? To possess, to brag, boast and share? I don’t get it. You can never relive those moments and the best of the moments are stored in your memory, do people really need the physical picture? Is that what is important in life?

My point being in all of this is that people cling to the darndest of things. The materials we acquire in life are not going with us when we die. I don’t even know if our memories go with us. We move on and all of this is left behind, that is what I work every day for, the end of the line. Not for what is here and now, not for memories and pictures but of the life and the world I will live in when I pass. I guess I’m weird like that. I don’t cling to materials.

Words, not pictures, matter most to me. When I pass, my family will scarcely find pictures of me. They’ll look at the pictures they dig up, weep and cry for what WAS, what they missed, and what they didn’t get to see. The image will not tell my story by any means but if they scan my words, they’ll get the entire picture of who I AM! The images will show I lived, I died, but my words, they will enter your soul and you will FEEL me long after I go! This is one of the very reasons for my need for survival, to leave something worth reading behind. One picture is worth a thousand words but my words will hold millions of pictures.

I pray each and every one of you are touched and blessed by my words! My purpose will be fulfilled. All praise and Glory to God! 

Matt. 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

5 comments:

benning said...

Word pictures ... do they count? ;) I'm picturing Folks skipping down a tree-lined path. LOL

*HUGS!* <3

NurseArtist said...

I understand your disdain for pictures. But let me explain why now, I too, am one of those who takes pictures. My daughter didn't write words. She was not a writer, so without pictures of her, it would be very difficult for me to keep her face in my memories. I also like to watch the progression of our grandchildren through pictures. I get to share moments with them that I was not even present for, because I was working at the time the picture was taken.

Our walls are also covered with family photos and framed prayers and memorabilia from lost loved ones. I have many paintings that I have done or close friends have done. They are in a box in our basement, because the photos are what is important to me.

We all have our priorities. It's what makes life interesting.

joni said...

Dixie,

I totally understand! I don't think there is anything wrong with that at all, like I said that was the first thing my sister grabbed was her pictures. I believe my m-i-l would do the same thing.

I was referring to me and what I leave behind and what I take with me. We are each unique in our own way because that is the way God wanted it. He doesn't love my way any more than He loves your way, He loves us ALL the same. I think that in itself is glorious!

And the era of selfies never did go over well with me. lol But images/pics are all I'll ever get to see of my great nieces and I cherish that.

*HUGS* <3

Benning,
Word pictures better count because it is the majority of what I'll leave behind and some gross teenage pics. lol

Heather said...

Maybe this is why our Lord also left WORDS behind!

joni said...

Long time no see, Heather! :D

Thank you for visiting.

And words are all I will leave behind also. <3