Your Redemption Is Coming

 

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.       - Luke 21:28 Jubilee Bible

Why do you look for the living among the dead? -Luke 24:5 NASB

Cars lie mangled in the middle of the highway. Red and blue lights pulse against the wet asphalt as an ambulance slowly backs up to the carnage. A woman stands weeping next to a solemn officer. Traffic crawls past the wreck in funeral procession as a policeman impatiently motions for the line to move on. His eyes plead, “Please, don’t make it a spectacle.”

But we can’t help it. We have to look.

Inexplicably, we’re drawn to the life-and-death struggles. I don’t know if it’s curiosity or fear that feeds the need for people to watch disasters unfold. The appetite for the macabre may just be a reflection of the world in which we live, a culture that spends millions of dollars to be entertained by the most perverse images Hollywood can conjure up. Death compels us to look. In the process, we lose the respect for life that once helped preserve society.

This world is trapped in a race to perdition.

Every act of rebellion feeds the engine. Every time humanity spits in the face of God, we lunge closer to the edge of the abyss. We argue on social media about what is happening and why. We watch with fascination and a sick stomach as this planet plunges toward a fearsome end. We pass by each injustice in procession, eyes glued to the gore as we shake our heads in disgust and worry about our future.

Sometimes we wonder, "Where Is God?"

One thing's for sure: We won't find Him by wandering through the tombs.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Jesus told us plainly that when certain signs begin to come to pass upon the earth, it's time to look up. Unlike us, He's not mesmerized by the horror surrounding us. He's actively engaged in our welfare and extending deliverance to all who ask. We're commanded to follow in His footsteps, to reach beyond our own suffering to serve others. Our world is filled with hurting people. We are all broken on some level, and we will continue to suffer as we journey alongside those intent on destroying themselves and others. 

All humanity may be trapped on the same planet, but we have different destinations. Believers must be aware and informed in order to be active members of society. Aside from that, we can't fixate on the gruesome and vulgar spectacles assaulting our senses. Our Captain plainly directed us to keep our eyes off the storms and lift our faces to heaven. In a moment, any moment of any day, He could return for us.

 One day, He will. Are you prepared to see His beautiful face?

Finding Joy in the Journey

 

The caregiver's life often offers precious little opportunity for respite and interaction with others. The pandemic has made this especially challenging, since infection control involves social distancing when your loved one is vulnerable to illness. This isolates us from the usual activities and support systems we employ to help us survive and thrive in our circumstances. 

Caregivers are resourceful, though. 

We're adept at adapting to change.

At our house, we learned to make home our vacation destination. Before our son Kevin's spinal cord injury in 1997, we loved our frequent family trips, and we especially enjoyed the National Parks. One of my husband's favorite places to visit was Yellowstone National Park. 

When we became full-time caregivers, our traveling stopped. We adapted by opening our home to friends and family. Over the years, we hosted many barbecues, dinners, holiday celebrations, and themed birthday parties. If we couldn't go have fun, we brought the fun to us.

Then a pandemic hit town and my back gave out. Life drastically changed for us in the last few years. Our outside activities now mostly consist of grocery and take-out runs. Trips are not an option. I can't even throw myself into my gardening like I used to. 

But life has to be more than survival. 

Last year, feeling nostalgic for our old haunts, I invited my husband along on a "roadtrip" through the National Parks as we work together on puzzles of our favorite haunts. He liked the idea, so we set up a cozy corner of our living room with a rustic table, stools, and warm Edison lights. 

Kevin loved the idea and surprised us with a beautiful hardcover coffee table book of the National Parks to enrich our journey. Since then, this corner has become our ticket to relive some of our happiest family memories as we travel from park to park and city to city. Whether it's hiking around Glacier Park, admiring the Redwoods, or watching Old Faithful spew, we can enjoy the beauty of our world without leaving the comfort of our living room. 

When we're not on a trip, the corner serves as a place to "eat out" or play a game of checkers. What we do isn't as important as the moments we spend together. 

A bonus is the small effort we have to expend in the process. We're always tired. With an inviting corner waiting for us, we're more likely to take advantage of the chance to take a small break together. We also have a couple of tables and chairs in our favorite spots outside to share coffee and "break time," if the weather permits. We discovered that a table under the large trellis on the back deck served as a pleasant outdoor "cafe" where we shared dessert or a plate of cheese and crackers. Often we only had time for a cup of coffee. 

The important thing, we learned, is to make the world stop for a moment, so we can just be...alive. Together.

When things are going well, it's easy to take the small joys for granted. When life is hard, it's crucial to find the joy where we live.

Maybe puzzles and board games aren't your thing. What could you do to bring more joy into your caregiving experience? What could you change to make your world a more welcome place to live?

If you've already been doing this for some time, we'd love to hear your ideas. What has worked for you?