The waiting line in our local post office forms beside a waist-high divider—a resting place for packages and also a stamp display case. The stamps range from a festive “Happy Birthday” to floral hearts to large reptiles and dinosaurs. One day I overheard a conversation in line behind me. Two young children, in care of their grandmother, were entertaining themselves talking about the stamps positioned at nose level.

 

Their exchange went something like this: “Nana, can we buy Happy Birthday stamps?”…“No, I wouldn’t want to wish the electric company ‘Happy Birthday.’”…“Nana, can we buy the heart stamps?”…“No, I wouldn’t want to put ‘I love you on my bills.”…“Nana, what about the dinosaurs?”…“No, I don’t want those. I just want plain old stamps.”

 

By the time we reached the end of the display, they were no longer bothering to even ask; and I was thinking, “Good grief, Woman!! WHY NOT buy the ones they want?”

 

When I got to the window, I told the clerk to give me the brightest wildest stamps he had. Plain stamps are fine and surely do their job, but what’s wrong with choosing the ones that bring a smile to your face and spirit?

 

The first time I heard Mercy Me’s “I Can Only Imagine”, it brought goose bumps; and I stood still and savored, “Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?…I can only imagine! I can only imagine!”

 

So, what are your dreams; and what will your epithet say? Will it say you put off doing what would have caused your heart to soar because it wasn’t on your schedule; or that you were too rigid to detour from your routine?

 

In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses challenged his people:

 

“This day I call heaven and earth

 

as witnesses against you

 

that I have set before you life and death,

 

blessings and curses.

 

Now choose life,

 

so that you and your children may live

 

and that you may love the Lord your God,

 

listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

 

For the Lord is your life….”

 

Which stamps will you buy?