We have a new pastor, Newlin Schafer, at our church. He was installed on the 16th of the month and has already preached for us three times, once prior to the official start of his service. This week his doctrinal word to examine was 'longing'. He spoke about the various things people long for, in his case, longing for the birth of their next baby, and so on. Pastor also mentioned about longing for people to come, even standing on one's tip toes to see down the road for the company to arrive. Yes, that's me, alright! I get so excited when company is coming.
A couple weeks ago Mom and I were talking on a Sunday afternoon. I asked her about church and the hymns they sang, etc. and also about Bible study. The subject for summer is taking a walk through the Supplement hymnal, examining the hymns. When I was there in May, we looked at "In Christ Alone", fleshing out the doctrine found in the text of the hymn. The hymn Mom and the class looked at that particular day she declared was from Advent season, but I couldn't find it in the CWS. I did find it later in the next section of the hymnal but that's okay. For our discussion, and theirs, one of the words they fleshed out was 'gasp'. What was something that made a person gasp? Seeing a mouse? No, we're talking about good gasps here.
I came up with seeing something beautiful, scenery or landscape (the Amalfi coastline came to mind) or a garment that just strikes you right. Mom said looking at a baby, the parents gasp in amazement. All good things. I remember gasping and then bursting into tears when I saw the view from kitchen through the family room and porch to the lake when I toured that home I bought on Doctors Lake. That is a true GASP!!!
Then, I suggested, "Company coming!" and she disputed that. Nope, not gasp-worthy in her book. Of course, I didn't back down and insisted I DO gasp when company comes, that I love to entertain and enjoy people. Mom's answer was, "Well, what if a person doesn't want any company? What if it's not someone you want to visit?" Oh, that just made me so sad to even think that, but she was right---not gasp-worthy if you don't want them to come.
May I long for the coming of my houseguests and visitors and gasp when they arrive! And may I long for the coming of the Lord to take us all home to Him. I know for sure that is gasp-worthy, with the trumpet sounds and angels and singing and seeing Christ face-to-face. "...what bliss beyond compare..." GASP!!!
