Monday, May 12, 2008

Hitting Close to Home

My Dad called me on Saturday- from Chengdu, China. He has been traveling all over China for over a week now. When I saw the news this afternoon, my heart jumped. I called my mother immediately who still hadn't heard from my father. It was Tuesday morning there at the time, and she still hadn't heard from him.

My first immediate thought was to think the worst considering so many people have already died. He even mentioned that he was going to the Panda Game Park on Sunday, the one that was on the news because it has been out of contact.

I will honestly admit that for a brief moment, a feeling of fear welled up in my heart. But then I thought about the Lord. I know that with a lot of tragic circumstances that have happened in my life, the Lord has often given me dreams of the person and woken me out of sleep to pray for them.

Then the thought came to me, "Lord, how come I did not think of my father before this?" I think I know the reason why...

Because my father is alright. I sent him a quick email and he wrote me back. He left Chengdu 18 hours before the earthquake. Whew! But let me tell, China felt alot closer to me today than it has in years because my Daddy is still there.

It is interesting to me...we feel like tomorrow is promised, but the Bible actually says that it's not.

It makes me think of this sweet little song...

"Just a closer walk with thee,
Grant it Jesus is my plea.
Daily walking close to thee,
When I walk help me walk close to thee."

Man, I want to walk closer to the Lord, there is no safer place to be.

5 comments:

~**Dawn**~ said...

First of all, I am *so* glad your father is ok. Sometimes I think that God uses these little "reminders" to draw us back again. Like small children, sometimes we don't see that we've started to get a step or two away from where we should be.

Colleen said...

Hi Dawn- You are so, so right.

Carol said...

Colleen,
As you remember, I got the "message" last year when the dog and I got caught in the raging river in VT. If not for prayer, such as it was, I would never have survived and stayed calm. When I was little and in Catholic school, we were taught to Ever be ready. I think young people today forget this, or perhaps parents like me were afraid to scare our children by telling them this.

We all have our little "wake up" calls. Life is precious, and so is the condition of our souls!!

Susan Skitt said...

Absolutely secure with Jesus, no matter what happens...

I'm glad your dear Dad is doing well and you were able to contact him.

Take care my friend. We're safe in the arms of Jesus!

Jules~ said...

I am so very glad your father is alright. And I totally agree that God is the safest place to be. It is a thin line that we walk isn't it? On the one hand, we are to prepare and be responsible, plan for things like investments and college educations, be wise with money so it lasts thru to the next paycheck. And yet, there is no promise of tomorrow. Tomorrow could never come and that is alright.
Time and again, I am reminded that He is the one in charge, He is the orchestrator and planner...all I must do is listen. That alone is a tall order.