Temporary

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by BJ Robinson

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. – Revelation 22:1-2

… the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Peter 3-7

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Peter 3-10

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth; the home of righteousness. Peter 3-13

In August my husband and I vacationed in Alaska. The day of the eclipse, he was in Homer fishing for halibut, but the waves were so rough the captain turned the boat around and took us in to be safe. We tried again the next day, and he caught his halibut, which is his main reason for going. It was beautiful, and my next work-in-progress is titled Alaskan Adventure. It was our first and probably only time to visit, and it was an Alaskan adventure for us.  

The day we were able to catch fish, it was the prettiest day out of the week we spent, and the sun was beautiful reflecting off the water as a pod of whales followed our boat. It rained every other day we were there, yet we found something to do and enjoyed our time there. I thought of how peaceful and untamed some of the territory was and could understand how some people feel in love with the place and wanted to move there, but I have to admit, as always after any vacation, I’m glad to be back home. There’s no place like home. 

Troubled times in today’s world from hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, and terrorists might make one long for the simple times of Henry David Thoreau when he lived on Walden Pond, but God promises a new heaven and earth that will be even better than Walden Pond, one with no sickness, no pain, and no death. He tells us not to let our hearts be troubled, to trust in Him.  

Years ago, I longed for the peaceful solitude of a cabin in the woods by water. For a short time I enjoyed my own with the Tickfaw River for my back door. Nature abounded the cabin on three sides with beautiful woodlands, and I loved it. To me, it was heaven on earth, and I read Walden by Henry David Thoreau when I lived there and identified with how he loved his simple cabin in the woods and the reasons he did. 

Thoreau wrote of his Walden Pond, “This is my lake county.  These with Concord River, are my water privileges . . .” He spoke of White Pond also.  As those were Thoreau’s water privileges, mine consisted of the Tickfaw River, and I took advantage of it on a daily basis that summer for fishing and swimming. 

I have had my money’s worth of sunny hours and summer days “spent lavishly,” as Thoreau said, splashing and swimming in the waters of that old muddy river. I practically lived on the banks of the Tickfaw River that summer.  My entire summer was spent between writing, with a view of the Holden woods, or swimming or sunning on the banks of the Tickfaw River.  I usually used my own private little island, which was a present leftover from the many floods, a gift from God. 

Just looking at the peaceful, calm water calmed and relaxed me.  It was my way of getting back to nature. I was like a bird out of a cage, and I enjoyed my freedom. The pond, the woods, and the river were my links to nature. Sometimes a writer needs his solitude and to get back to nature, and my own Walden allowed me to do this. As nature and peaceful solitude helped Henry David Thoreau, it also helped this writer write as well as reflect upon nature and God’s gift to us while we live in our temporary homes.

Robert Lowry wrote a hymn in 1864, “Shall We Gather at the River?” which eases my heart.

These songs and the above-captioned scriptures helped me in my time of need when I lost my mother and youngest sister six years apart. God sent His Comforter and though I still miss them dearly, I know they’re no longer in pain, and I will see them again when we gather at the river. As Robert Lowry wrote, “Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.”

I pray you will be comforted by the Bible verses and hymn as I was, and I pray for America in these trying days. Friends and loved ones, I hope to see you there one day. Meet me at the river. Remember, there’s no place like home.

B. J. Robinson

 

 

Bio: B. J. Robinson writes Amazon best-selling historical romance and romantic suspense and enjoys writing in various genres. There are numerous selections readers may choose from among romantic suspense, historical romance, mystery, and sweet contemporary romance. Robinson is an avid reader and passionate writer whose hope is to entertain her readers by taking them on a continuous journey to other worlds while reminding them of the beautiful one yet to come. If you would like to explore the various genres she’s written, please check out her Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/B.-J.-Robinson/e/B007DNJIKU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1458731934&sr=1-2-ent 

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