The End

If you took a glance around our world, you'd probably start to notice how much is focused on goodbyes, on the end, on the finale. But what about the beginning? The in between? What happened to people rejoicing when their friends arrived? I know when my friends get to my house, I just open the door and say "Hey, what do you want to do?" What we should all be saying when our friends arrive is "Hey! Welcome! I'm glad you could come! How have you been?" And I know that when my friends are over, the constant question is "When do you have to leave?" I find this focusing on the worst part of joining up with friends, and I don't know why it's the focus of so many questions. It's true that everyone has to go eventually, and that everyone dies, but why do we act like it's hopeless and nothing is worth our time? That we all have to rush to get places, instead of taking the scenic route or slowing down to notice things that you've never noticed before or even looking at the things you've taken for granted all your life. Let me ask you this, why not focus on the in between? Are we too focused on the end result that we forget about the path getting there. If you were to take Lord of the Rings for example. If Frodo just rode an eagle over into Mordor, dropped the ring into Mt. Doom and left, which would have been easier, would he still realize how much he loved the Shire, or see Sam's loyalty and devotion. There would be no lessons learned. That applies to real life as well in the fact that we look so forward to the end result that we miss all the lessons learned in between. That's also the primary reason that God gives us hardships and trials to deal with because of the spiritual, emotional and personal growth that one can gain from going through such endeavors. The ending is just important as the beginning or middle but it's not more important. Make every minute with a loved one or loved thing count because you never know the time when you will have to say goodbye. Do not focus on the end of such things, rather the time you have and the present. I am not saying that you should not be aware of things that will most likely happen in the future such as death among others, but that you should not train your eyes to them. How I long for the day when we shan't need to say goodbye anymore, where tears of sorrow will be replaced by tears of happiness and rejoicing. For that day when the Lord comes down again will be like the green of spring coming down out of the darkness of winter. When evil shall be no more and love shall abound. Where we will be with God, and our friends and family and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. To me that is no end, but rather a new beginning. And one I am looking forward with all of my heart!