It was a place I could have stayed forever. How many times I have found such campsites! Place so beautiful it gave a man the wistfuls to see or to think back on. So many times we said, ‘We’ve got to come back some time!’ an’ knowin’ all the while we never would.”
–Louis L’Amour (Lonely on the Mountain)
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
–2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV)
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We’re sure having a nice time on vacation. It’s been fun staying with Shauna, Greg, and Garrett. Our glamping experience was really enjoyable. Glamping is not really camping; when a person glamps they are using an RV or in our case a cabin. We stayed on Little Pine Creek in north central Pennsylvania. While there Annie was able to see her “little” brother and his family, that includes the nephews. It was a grand time. Then last Saturday, her “big” brother and his wife came to visit. Sure was good, made the heart glad.
However, I was reminded several times during each visit that it could be the last time we see each other, at least on this side of heaven. There could be many reasons for that. One is that we are all getting up in age and could be called home. Accidents do occur and there is that thing called the virus out there. The devil would love for us to die, but that is not his call for it will not happen until the Lord gives the appointed time. On a positive note, we could all go up together in the Rapture.
In saying all of that I am reminded of family and friends. It’s important while we are still down here on earth to be about the Lord’s business and that includes making the most of the time we have with them. I have always thought that way; I have thought many times that this could be the last time we see one another. “Do this,” I think to myself, “for it could be the last time.”
All last week the words from Albert E. Brumley’s song kept coming to me.
Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey
And perhaps never meet anymore
Till we gather in Heaven’s bright city
Far away on that beautiful shore
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
As we struggle through this world and its strife
There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven
By the side of the river of life
Where the charming roses bloom forever
And where separations come no more
If we never meet again this side of Heaven
I will meet you on that beautiful shore
On this side we have to say goodbye from time to time. There are those instances when we intend to see a person again and for some reason, a move, death, or simply life gets in the way and we don’t bother to contact them or go see them. No matter what, we do need to remember to pray for them. Every morning, when I send out the Echo, I say a prayer that it will touch those who read it. I have tried to be faithful in sending them, and I wonder, at times, if the recipients get anything from them.
I have thought of the quotation by Louis L’Amour many, many times. So many places I would have liked to stay, so many places I would like to have revisited and never have, most likely never will. Friends, if we never meet again on this side, it is my prayer that you are ready to meet the Lord so that we can have that grand reunion on that “beautiful shore.”