c'est la vie

Yes, that's life.

Since talking with a good friend last week I've been pondering the truth of that statement. The suffering and loss we experience in this life should be expected and, I suppose, taken with a few grains of salt. This is because, as Christians, we realize that that is just the nature of this life. And also, that ultimately we don't belong here. This is not our home, we only cause ourselves problems by being mislead into forgetting this.

I suppose it's a combination of knowing this internally and the suffering involved in living life on earth that has given me a very differnt take on death than I'm sure a lot of people have. Most of the time I'm ready to go. I'd rather be in heaven than living my life on earth. Any day. I'm ready.

That's how I feel. I think it's a good thing. But, I've been suprised at some of the looks on people's faces that I've expressed this to. Even people who go to church. Their expression and demeanor changes and suddenly looks as though I'm talking crazy talk, like I'm a real wacko, or like I'm telling them the equivalent of, "I'd like to kill myself." (Which of course I would never do for the sake of my family and for the sake of my soul. It would not make sense at all since the goal is to get to heaven.)

I think living with the feeling that you'd much rather be in heaven is the way we're all supposed to be living.

The only problem is that this causes a certain tension. Living, being stuck here, and knowing it's not where you ultimately belong, where you really want to be. That, I don't know what to do with. Accept it? Ignore it? Use it as motivation to live out your {faith and works} to the best of your ability and never be a slacker? (probably.)

Oh, God, save us. For it is certainly true that our souls will be restless until they rest in You.