Surreal moments

Today’s Reading: John 13:31-32(NIV)

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify the Son in Himself, and will glorify Him at once.”

Good morning!

Have you ever looked back on an experience in life and felt that it was a surreal moment captured in time? Today is definitely one of those days for me. Twenty-seven years ago, on July 14, 1981, my husband and I were living in Terrell, Texas, about forty miles east of Dallas. He was a seminary student at Perkins School of Theology at SMU and I was employed as a church administrative assistant for a local Disciples of Christ Church. At 6am, the sun was just coming up over the hillside, and we were driving into the city together, eagerly anticipating the birthday celebration to come. At 12:51pm that afternoon, our son Benjamin took his very first breath of air in the delivery room of Medical City Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He was absolutely perfect, tipping the scales at 7 pounds 12 ounces and 22 inches long. Bald as a bucket, with big beautiful blue eyes, we were smitten with our newborn cabbage patch kid. Today, Jeff and I will return to Dallas, to celebrate this special day together and remember with joy the precious gift of life that was given to us twenty-seven years ago today.

While we are there, we plan to visit the College Mound United Methodist Church in Terrell. This congregation really knew how to love a student pastor’s family. They were so good to us! We were very young then, with a new family and a dream of one day graduating and returning to our Missouri home for our first full-time pastoral appointment. Wide-eyed with anticipation of what the future would hold, we loved the time we spent at College Mound; these were moments of growth and change for all of us. We hope to catch up to some of our old friends, meet some new people, and enjoy some time revisiting an important part of our family’s history. Surreal moments are important measurements in the days of our lives.

There was no doubt Jesus knew where He was going. He knew things were about to change forever, not only for Himself, but for a dying world. Looking back, Jesus remembered where He had been and His purpose in coming. The events of the next forty-eight hours would change the course of earthly life forever. He was anticipating going home, taking His last breath on earth and His first new breath in heaven. His vision was clear; and His mind was made up. Jesus was standing on the cusp of a surreal and holy moment, purposefully stepping up into the Father’s master plan in obedience and with holy, perfect love.

As we remember the love of our Savior today, may our lives glorify the man in the glory, Jesus Christ, the One who willingly laid down His life for you and me. How will you choose to celebrate your new birth day? Will you join me in glorifying and praising our Lord?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

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© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

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