You’re hoping for something, … aren’t you?
Right now, I’m hoping for cooler temperatures, so I’ll need to travel to it because it’s summertime – van life. I’ve decided to head up the 89 through Utah and on into Idaho, then into Washington until autumn chills me back south. This is my normal routine three years running and I love it. Freedom.
And … I chose the middle road on my east exit last week from northern New Mexico, Route 66. Hiking around a petrified forest and touring a crazy underground cavern, the 66 didn’t disappoint. Now I’m in Pahrump just through the weekend and having fun joking with a friend while I helped with a couple of small projects. This friend is a guy I grew up with who seriously RV’s and I’ll meet up with him and his wife in mid-July in Port Angeles on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula. That’s van life.
But back to the topic: What are you hoping for?
Everyone has plans, goals, aspirations, or desires. Are you hoping for a partner? Or a solidly successful career? How about good health for the duration? Your hopes might be less grand. Your next meal? Enough to pay the power bill? A lift out of poverty, or addiction, or someone else’s shallow nature?
Whatever it is, if you are serious about it, you will be living for it. All effort will revolve around it! You’ll be consumed by it, and you will make significant effort to acquire it. And so, “it” is important – worth some thought.
For example, in the 1991 comedy City Slickers. Curly (played by Jack Palance) says to Mitch (Billy Crystal) something that carries weight.
Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
Curly (holds up one finger): This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don’t mean shit.
Mitch: That’s great, but what’s the one thing?
Curly: That’s what you got to figure out. [end scene]
Once you do, you will live for it. And in the life of a believer, we also get some guidance on “it”. We need hope, great hope during these dark times prior to the glory of rapture, resurrection, restoration, rejuvenation, in the hereafter. We ought to hope and “long for a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.” Only then (in hope of it) might we live for it, becoming the best version of ourselves. Otherwise, we might spend years chasing power, fame, fortune, and a better parking space at the mall.
You will live for what you hope for.
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. – 1 John 3:1-3 NKJV
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But [be zealous] for the fear of the LORD all the day; 18 For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off. – Proverbs 23:17-18 NKJV
Consider reading Hear The Song. This book describes something (a wild adventure) you are hoping for as a follower of Christ. Let that become your “one thing”.
Blessings.