I love watching reunion videos with military mamas, daddies, spouses and even adult children—showing up at unexpected times and surprising the daylights out of the people who love them most.

 

Makes me wonder about the morning Dan ended up in heaven—in the presence of The One who has always loved him best. I do imagine Dan was surprised—not at his final destination, to be sure—but by the timing; a totally unexpected departure and arrival time in our schedules—but not the Father’s.

 

Life still surprises me, but I’m ever so grateful that it never surprises God.

 

I paused for a long minute the day I saw a photo of a sculpture depicting an elderly woman stepping from this life into the next. Walking cane-balanced with arthritic hand outreached to the curtain—then bursting through to the other side; totally transformed—young strong arms stretched forward, no cane in sight, and feet racing to Jesus.

 

Reminds me of Mercy Me’s song “I Can Only Imagine”

 

…Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine…

“However,

 

no one knows the day or hour

 

when these things will happen,

 

not even the angels in heaven

 

or the Son himself.

 

Only the Father knows.

Matthew 24:36

 

“Therefore keep watch,

 

because you do not know the day or the hour.

Matthew 25:13

 

 

 

(“Come Unto Me” by Jerry Anderson. Bronze sculpture in the Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George, UT)