Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear people on this recipient list.
Cloudy and dry at present. Lots of work looking at me. Of course there was lots of work looking at me yesterday too. But I’m quite glad I was irresponsible and left it lay in favor of testing the mountain conditions. Becki contributed to that course by reminding me that I could run by Wood-Mizer after the mountain and pick up my sawmill blades that have been resharpened—which I did. I had a terrific time amidst that mountain beauty, mainly skiing the upper ungroomed open slopes of the “Magic Mile.” That big rugged pile of snow-flocked dirt and rock called Mt. Hood was simply spectacular against the clear sky and sunshine. Well, here—I’ll stick on one photo I took back behind me while navigating a fun little bowl. You can kind of see my track. One added point of interest was to watch a bunch of guys outside the Timberline boundaries doing KITE BOARDING and SKIING—just like they do in big winds on the River. The power of those kites allows them to be pulled uphill. If I was a little younger, I think I could easily get hooked.
Have a blessed day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
If you are normal, my hunch is that you too have encountered some unbecoming circumstances along the way that have prompted you to entertain that same wish. I’ll put forth another hunch—that Sovereign God is quite aware of that wishful thought—and even intends it. After all, if we never had storms and tempests, if everything down here was wall-to-wall wonderful, why would we long for God’s eternal oasis? It is that very realization that inspired the familiar song—
I’ll fly away!
To that land on God’s celestial shore—
I’ll fly away!”
Since “THE FALL” (Genesis 3) human society has never been free of barbarism, treachery, espionage, deceit, exploitation, and abuse. And Biblical revelation announces that it will never be fully eradicated this side of eternity. So much for the popular pursuit of utopia! All we can do is cope the best we can. And I think the best we can is to do the best we can to copy David’s bottom-line prayerful exclamation made to his Sovereign LORD as the last sentence of this psalm—“But as for me, I trust in you” (Psalms 55:23b).
The fact is, flying away is exactly what we shall all do at some appointed time. The big question is not WHEN as much as it is WHERE.
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.”.
Proverbs 24:19-20
“Cast your cares upon the LORD and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.”