We arrived home just before midnight. For me, it’s been twelve days of pushing and going with very little thought for R&R. Rest. Recovery. As said by one comedian, “Let’s git’ ‘er done.” My bride spent an average of nearly 1,000 miles (nearly 7,000 road miles) for seven days, leaving Sunday and arriving home the following Saturday… For her? S-L-E-E-P in a non-moving position!
Now. We love road trips and plan them as part of our vacating life. (Vacation!) Her car as over 200k, and my truck nearly 350k. Between us, these vehicles are pushing nearly 600,000 miles with only a little repair, or R&R time!
On this latest trip, my knees and hips hurt from too much movement, and not enough. As in, cramped into a sitting position, and not enough opportunity to stretch the legs. Along the way, I slipped at a gas station in some oily muck and jammed my shoulders, so they’ve been hurting themselves!
We homed ourselves into the house, unloaded but no unpacking, and preparing for a night of R&R… Of which, I spent about 5 hours passed out through the night, but can no longer simply lay around and do nothing. It’s time to say “no more” to my pillow!
This Morning
A song came to mind early this morning and I applied it to these past few weeks and months. From my sister’s passing, through us laying dad to rest in Livingston, Texas, we’ve been agonizing through the rough end of life that most of us experience. We’ve had 7 family and close friend’s death to experience during this same time period. It’s getting weary, folks!
This song is from a very famous songwriter of the circle of music I sing in… Stuart Hamblen. I looked through his repertoire of songs and realize my dad sang just about every one of them! Including this one.
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no more
Ain’t got time to fix the shingles
Ain’t got time to fix the floor
Ain’t got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the windowpane
Ain’t a-gonna need this house no longer
He’s a-gettin’ ready to meet the saints
You change the words to fit the personality and timing, and it comes down to all of us no longer needing this shell of humanity. There’s no time left to repair and enjoy some R&R…
Last Week
Of course, the other song I sang was at dads bedside, memorial service, and standing around his grave. It’s by Alfred E. Brumley who penned over 800 gospel songs.
This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Chorus:
O Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Only, I change the last line of this song to say:
“And I can’t feel at home in this world…no more…”
No amount of beauty or enjoyment keeps me satisfied with what I call “home”. This world is not my home… Yep! Just passing through! I’m not storing treasures here, but up there it’ll be a greater place and time than I can ever imagine. This world was meant to be a paradise. It’s not. There’s too much suffering by too many of us. There are too many challenges to overcome in the short years we call this our “temporary home”.
Final Thought
If everything we ever hope to enjoy is found at your fingertips… are you satisfied? I’m not. I live in a beautiful place and have been to some marvelous destinations, but if I place all my hopes on the “here and now” then I’m going to miss out on a really great final place that has been prepared with “me” in mind.
I downloaded a music video a few years ago by Carrie Underwood. She sings a song that wraps up my thought for this morning.
This is my temporary home
It’s not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I’m passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where I’m going
I’m not afraid because I know
This is my temporary home
Writer(s): Zac Maloy, Carrie Underwood, Luke Robert Laird
Maybe you are content with the here and now. I’m not. There is a far and away better place I’m aiming for. Why? I want to join those who have gone on before… That’s one reason. The other? I can think of no better way to think about life in the here and now. No More…
Some day this life will all be over. My accomplishments and collection of things will pass and fade, eventually it will mean nothing to no one. Only what’s done here, preparing for there, it’s the only thing that matters. Share on X