  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: windac
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"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity."
Henry Van Dyke
"The silent, never-resting thing called time, rolling, rushing on,
swift, silent, like an all embracing ocean tide...
this is forever very literally a miracle; a thing to strike us dumb."
Thomas Carlyle, 1840 |
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"Time will reveal everything. It is a babbler, and speaks even when not asked."
Euripedes
At the precise moment we are born, we begin to die. Our time on this earth is temporary, a thing to be measured and counted out in human increments. My days, like yours, are numbered. There are no guarantees for a healthy long life, no option given us at birth. It is fate, a destiny we must all face.
Perhaps it is the knowledge that I am well past middle age that brings the tenuous hold on mortality forefront and center these days. When we are young we feel immortal. The passage of time is a non-issue, at least for most of us. We breeze through life as if it will last forever, that the sun will always come up tomorrow. And then, one day we look in the mirror. Our bodies have been marking in great detail this passage for the whole world to see, and for our entire bodies to feel. The day comes when we recognize the all too real inevitability of our own demise, and that it's much closer than we'd like it to be.
As we age, time gains momemtum, speeding ahead at an ever-increasing and alarming rate. It's not uncommon for people to reach a certain age, and to make major life changes. It is then the realization hits. Time, and whatever control we thought we had, is slipping away from us. We've all heard the term 'mid life crisis', and know the lengths some will go in an effort to stay young and feel alive. But what I'm talking about has nothing to do with a romantic fling, plastic surgery or buying a flashy new sports car. I'm talking about something deeper, universal, and much more important.
Man, or so it would seem to this writer, was born with an innate fear, a determination to overcome and deny death, whatever the cost. What is it that strikes such potent fear into our hearts? The pain we might face while in the throes of death? The thought of being relegated to some lonely and forgotten place by loved ones? Or is it the prospect that this life is all there is? That we have lived our given moments in vain, not leaving a piece of overselves behind? Or worse yet, is it the fear that we have not lived our lives according to what God commanded?
Death means different things to different people, depending upon your religion, the lack thereof, culture, background, or any number of things. To me, even though I am a Christian, death is a fearsome notion on just about every level. Pain and suffering frighten me. The thought of spending my last days forgotten in an old folks home scares the wits out of me. But what scares me the most is that my entire life will be a disappointment to God, that I will not be found worthy of spending eternity in heaven. For me there is no greater fear.
If you knew you were going to die 24 hours after reading this newsletter, what would you do? Get your legal affairs in order? Spend precious time with loved ones? Say the hell with it, and leave this world in a drug or alcohol-induced haze? Would you cringe in fear, or confidently look death straight in the eye? Regardless of your belief system, the truth is, there is no escape. Sooner or later we're all going to die. Getting your affairs in order and spending time with loved ones is probably a given. But what about having your spiritual house in order? That, my friends, is the gist of this issue.
Do you believe you possess a soul - an invisible energy that leaves the physical shell of your body upon death? If so, where does this energy go when your body dies? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? If so, how does one avoid one and gain entrance into the other? These are all questions well worth pondering, and pondering before it's too late. Death can snatch us up in the blink of an eye, without any warning whatsoever. Am I the only one who senses that the world seems to be winding up for the big finish? I often wonder, if doomsday were to come tomorrow, will I be ready? Will you?
"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man
will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Matthew 24:44 NIV
 Until next time, think good thoughts and send them along!
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| |  | Psalm 30:5 (E)
the most painful time of my life, but I thank God for it.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Thank you to everyone who sent feedback my way! Your encouragement means a great deal. God bless you all!
Submitted By: faithjourney
Thanks for the encouragement with dry spells. My husband and I are in the process of selling our home and building a new one. In the hustle to get everything moving by the end of the month, my writing has pretty much skidded to a halt - along with my creativity. Stress and an overfilled schedule will do that. Thanks for letting me know I'm now alone. Perhaps by the time our new home is built this fall, the words will come again. In the meantime, I'll just submit what I've got. God bless you!
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Submitted By: JanzPlanz
Thank you for a wonderful newsletter. It is so refreshing to find material written from a familiar, spiritual perspective. I read and enjoyed every item. I especially identified with the letter from the editor, and my favorite item was "Hurt, Hope and Healing" by GardenGirl.
I don't know what kind of submissions you are looking for, but since my portfolio is very limited so far, I will send a poem. Item #1253056, "Changing Direction." Blessings, Jan
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Submitted By: Puditat
A sweet, personable newsletter, Wind. Thank you for your continued writing and blessings for the reawakening of your poetic spirit.
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Submitted By: Imagine21
This is the best issue that I have ever read!
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Submitted By: werden 
Thank you for your letter. I personally admit that I struggle with poetry. I tend to skip over whenever poetry is mentioned. I admit that this is a serious weekness. I also admit that it will take time and grace to overcome it.
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Submitted By: Bluesman
Hi, Great newsletter... and thank you for highlighting my memoir piece "Spiritual Integrity." Even with the best examples in life integrity is the toughest truth to live up to because most of the time it is between a person's self and Christ.
On a different subject entirely, I'm glad you can write poetry because I am scared to death of it...
Be Blessed in His Perfect Love,
Michael
The Gospel BluesMan
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Submitted By: SHEA
I thank you for using my writing on "Gratitude" and wish you the Peace of Christ.
You do such a wonderful job, and we are all lucky to be in the best community; Writing.com
In Christ,
Shea |
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Spiritual: June 13, 2007 Issue [#1768]
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