Norfords' Ramblings

Friday January 2, 2009

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14.

The last few weeks or so have been quite hectic. Especially for old codgers like us, preparation for leaving home for an extended period, travelling to Montreal for Christmas, the rounds of visiting and some decorating at our daughter’s home, a short night flight to London and living out of a suitcase while coping with jetlag; this all piles up. We are now staying with our friends in Oxford, and are glad of a few days of a slow lifestyle—it has to be: we sleep late, fall asleep in the chair and fall into a deep sleep for one or two hours each afternoon!

I doubt if either of us ever want to be bored, but there seems little chance it will happen until we have wings and a harp. Not that we would have it any other way. The God given health and ability to travel to visit with our beloved family and friends of long standing, to find ways of serving and increase our resources for service are gifts we treasure. We are so grateful that this prostate cancer has not hindered our plans for the New Year, and I do not feel any ill effects from the disease.

Ann’s continuing studies, our time serving the mission in England and my work writing and getting our books published are all part of being able to communicate to our culture the knowledge of God. Our text today clearly looks to some future time when God himself will intervene in our sick world and all will know who he is. But in the meantime, our efforts, however small, are part of the ongoing work to see his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This destiny that Christians have prayed for over two millennia will come to pass, but we are privileged to be part of building it for the time we have left.

Tomorrow we take the coach (“bus” for North Americans) to the south coast where my sister will meet us and take us to our assignment at Worthing. Again there will be a gap of a day or two while we get established and e-connect again with the world at large and you in particular.