I have fought the good fight
I have finished the race
I have kept the faith
Henceforth there is reserved for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all who have loved his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Summer of Y2K and I'd be returning to the West Coast after another sojourn on the East Coast. At my request, Pastor-Missioner Mike wrote a letter of reference for me. I suggested to him it was a "bit much" (of course I didn't deny any of his accolades) and it might overwhelm strangers reading it and considering my employment or other participation, so he helpfully updated it. I still have that letter grouped with some others from that time period. I haven't looked at any of them for a long while and I don't remember much of what anyone said, but I do remember and I can tell you Mike described me as "faithful." Wow! And by grace I have been faithful.
The crown of righteousness sounds beautiful. My illustration is gold, but I'm thinking instead of precious metal it really will be intertwined fresh green laurel leaves, maybe with accents of colorful wild flowers. All of that possible because humans have been faithfully caring for creation. And those who will receive one alongside me, those I'll join in community?
You probably know the love described as agape that's unconditional, inclusive, divine love, like the love of God. The end of my scripture selection from 2 Timothy is about people who have agape-ed or loved (and longed for and welcomed) Jesus' appearing – the Greek says his epiphany! – with the kind of love we find in the heart of God. As my concluding song stanza says, they will have followed the word and followed the Word because they know all humanity claims kinship of being created in the divine image.
Well, one day soon we all will stand
God's word will be heeded in all the land
All shall know and all shall see
We all are kindred and we all are free
Humankind was made of clay
Each of us in the very same way
Get ready, people, for that day!
Noel Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow
Today's "fight" prompt is a good fit for what I wrote on my scripture blog this week:
• Reign of Christ 2024
I am a low-rent hero,
ReplyDeletenothing much to see.
Maybe not a zero,
but there's no victory
in just surviving day to day
to see another dawn.
Life is seeming like a play
that's many acts too long,
but still I will try to remain
as long as I yet can,
even though the cancer-pain
is too much for this man.
Won't need a crown, I did my best,
so please, God, let Thy servant rest.