Reach (9/23/2023)

My father taught me this, but I hadn’t heard it for ages. Then today, as I sat pondering what I was going to write in my blog, I heard it come out of the mouth of a country star on a morning show. I wasn’t watching the show; it was on in the background. So, I can’t tell you who the man was or what show he was on. But somewhere he must have had a wise father also. “Reach for the stars. If you are ever going to touch them, you must reach for them.”

When my father shared these words of insight and motivation, it was concerning my dreams of who I wanted to be. And the day I received my doctorate, he was there. And I knew that his wink at me as I walked across the stage was his way of saying, “See.” I did see. He was right. Wise people in our lives have a way of encouraging us to become the one we know in our innermost being we are called to be. They have different ways of telling us to “just begin” the journey. Their actual words aren’t as important as their belief in us.

I miss my dad. I miss his wisdom. I miss his crooked grin. I miss the way he saw something in me that others didn’t or wouldn’t. Most of all I miss his unique way of loving me that made me grow. My tribute to him is being the one he could see.

“Reach.” Today, as I heard it, it had a more spiritual tone. Today when I heard it, I realized that it applies to my journey home. I will never touch the LORD’s heavenly throne if I don’t reach for it now. I know where I want to be. I know who I want to be. It won’t just happen “miraculously.” The LORD doesn’t work like that; instead, the LORD gave me a free will. I must reach.

That reach involves orienting myself to the LORD. I will never reach life with the LORD if I’m not even headed that direction. And the reach involves movement toward the LORD, one choice at a time. As I make my way, as I seek daily to live into the one I am called to be, created to be, I find my longing within me grows. I am not there, yet, but each step, each reach, intensifies my desire for life in, with and through the LORD. Reach.

And this morning, as I heard these words in the background, it was as if my father was encouraging me yet again. And my desire to reach was stirred anew. Someday, hopefully as I walk the final steps of my journey, I hope to see my father wink at me, his way of saying, “See.”

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.