Already and Not Yet

At my church's women's retreat this weekend, we talked about the concept of the "already and not yet" aspect of our lives as followers of Christ. When we become new creatures in Christ, we begin to see areas of our lives redeemed, revived and renewed. New life grows in us and we experience healing in our families, relationships, communities and world. Yet there still is a longing in us that is never quite met here on earth. We are not as we were created to be; the ravages of sin have taken their toll on us and on God's creation. Yet we have this great hope in us: that Jesus entered into our brokenness and pain and is healing and renewing from the inside out.

I had such a beautiful taste of that this weekend. I am so thankful for the women of my church. As I looked around the room, I saw my mothers and my sisters in the faith who have really made Columbus feel like home to me. Their friendships and love have brought healing to my soul. They have truly been the hands and feet of Jesus to me over the past 2 1/2 years. Being with them was a taste of the "already"; a glimpse of heaven here on earth.

When I came home from my lovely weekend, I was again reminded of the "not yet"! My baby girl was sick and she and I spent the next two hours in the urgent care waiting room to see the doctor. Good news is she doesn't have H1N1. Just a really bad cold. Even in this though, I saw God's hand of redemption. I have been away from home 7 days in the last two weeks. It was a joy to get to spend two hours cuddling with my darling girl and just enjoying her presence (subdued as it was). It reminded me of some of my favorite verses of a hymn we sang in RUF:

No chilling wind nor poisonous breath

Shall reach that healthful shore.

Sickness, sorrow, pain and death

are felt and feared no more!

When shall I reach that happy place,

And be forever blessed?

When shall I see my Father's face,

and in His bosom rest?

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound

for the Promised Land.

I am thankful for a God who was not afraid to enter into the sickness and suffering of the ones He loved so that He could rescue them from themselves. I delight in partnering with Him as He recreates His world through His Church. I long for the day when I shall see Him face to face; to see Him as He truly is will be heaven enough for me.