Jeff's Journal

"Soon and very soon, we are goin' to see the King,

   soon and very soon, we are goin' to see the King…"

These are the words that begin a beautiful hymn

   sung by the Kentucky Men's Chorus on their CD.

The song talks about how the day will come

   when we meet the Lord at the time we leave

   the physical world and enter the spiritual world.

This is no moribund, morose, sad song.

   No, the Men's Chorus sings this with a lilt,

      with energy and they create a bright sound.

You can feel the joyful anticipation of that day

   of which they sing.

This is the unique position we are to embrace

   as Christians whose hope is in the Lord.

Tears, sadness and grief are real and true.

   But we yearn for that day when all hope

      will be satisfied, our faith will be fulfilled,

      on that day when we go to meet the King.

Charlie Tingle, whose funeral was Monday,

   used to ask, "Why am I still here?"

His age was a factor in the question, but it

   was among the most profound questions

   any one of us can ask.

Embedded in the question was not only,

   "What should I be doing?" but the unspoken

    words "When will I be 'goin to meet the King?'"

Is it possible for us to hold the deep desire to live

  in one hand while anticipating with great joy,

   that day "soon and very soon" when we

   are "goin' to meet the King?"

It is having the best of both worlds.

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff