MID EAST MUSINGS: TAKE TWO

There it was – the red pen in the dirt. It caught my eye as we were preparing to leave. It lay there as a reminder of the fleeting escape of feelings. The pen had been purchased, packed and processed in hopes of changing a life for Christ. Granted a pen by itself has no such power, but in the hands of God, it can rewrite an eternity.

An hour before, the pen brought a euphoric bliss as a small part of a bigger picture. Minutes ago, the pen was called into immediate action to collect names and foreign words in collaboration similar to yearbook day at the local school. But, as pens do…it quit writing. At that point, it became the first casualty of a box full of goodies that will all eventually go the way of disappearing ink.

As we unpack the boxes of our lives, one by one, the items given to us no longer hold much value. In the end, we stand holding an empty box. This box once held promise and a glimpse of hope. It is no doubt an extension of love direct from the Giver. Isn’t it great to know that it is that love that is eternal, lasting long beyond the life of the box itself.

Isn’t that why we live this life in the first place?

So, as I pack and prepare my box this year, I will no doubt be purchasing those things that fade away once again. Yet it is my prayer that each item will hold the hope of a Living Savior to someone who needs to meet Him. For the introduction to the eternal will bring joy long after the toothpaste is gone, the toy breaks or the pen runs out of ink.