I believe spirits are recycled and very long lived, as opposed to most materials aspects of life that are temporal. Within the temporal world of material things, exists art, created by humans to express aspects of their spirit. Among the varied means of artistic expression is symbolism.
For example in the number three we have the first geometric figure. Two straight lines cannot enclose any space or form a planar figure. Three lines are necessary to form a planar figure and three dimensions are required to form a solid. A triangle is the simplest planar figure and a cube is the simplest three-dimensional solid. So as two could represent a square, three could represent a cube or solid contents. Three therefore represents that which is solid, real, substantial, complete and entire.
I have experienced a significant threesome in recent days and imagine a significance, a message of importance, related to my faith and my belief in “recycling of spirits” and enduring life. I paid attention to three friends and by reflecting on my interaction with them I was encouraged in my faith.
First, my friend Clarke Harvey, sent a drawing of me, as I might have looked in the in 16th century.
Second, a recent phone call from Bill McWhorter was made to discuss the remarkable way David Houston came to check on us and rescue us from a predicament on the Missouri River.
Third, a new friend I met recently in South Carolina. Professor John Lancaster sent me his “Ministry Minutes”. John’s academic background is history. I have studied art history and have tried to imagine life as an artist in historical contexts.
The coming together of Clarke’s drawing, Bill’s observation of our river experience and John’s most recent message is affirmation of “Being Sent”. The feeling of being sent has dwelled in me since I was a child, but it did not become real, substantial or complete until I found encouragement from friends and confidence in my gift of imagination. Then I took to heart a quote by Billy Graham: “I am a traveler in this world, just passing through, my real home is in heaven. And I recall words I wrote for my mother’s funeral: There is a long and winding road. The path will lead to home. Do not fear things that threaten along the way. But do prepare for a time to come when your spirit will live with the ones you have loved.
In conclusion, the feeling of eternal spirits and the intuition of being sent is articulated by my friend John Lancaster:
A Sense of Sent-ness
Forty times in the book of John, Jesus referred to Himself as being sent by the Father. In Luke 6:13 we read that Jesus “called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles”, a word that means, “to be sent” or “sent one”. Mark said, “… He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out …” (Mark 3:14). Following His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21).
Jesus and the early disciples possessed a clear “sense of sent-ness.” As Christ-followers, we also have been appointed, commissioned, and sent to represent Him in words and works wherever we are. It's clear from the Scriptures; there is no secular/sacred distinction in life. Before God, all of life matters. God has sent professors to their university, their department, their colleagues and their students. Not only that, God promises to empower and equip us for the works He's prepared for us to do.
Colossians 3:23-24 applies to our situation: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.
For example in the number three we have the first geometric figure. Two straight lines cannot enclose any space or form a planar figure. Three lines are necessary to form a planar figure and three dimensions are required to form a solid. A triangle is the simplest planar figure and a cube is the simplest three-dimensional solid. So as two could represent a square, three could represent a cube or solid contents. Three therefore represents that which is solid, real, substantial, complete and entire.
I have experienced a significant threesome in recent days and imagine a significance, a message of importance, related to my faith and my belief in “recycling of spirits” and enduring life. I paid attention to three friends and by reflecting on my interaction with them I was encouraged in my faith.
First, my friend Clarke Harvey, sent a drawing of me, as I might have looked in the in 16th century.
Second, a recent phone call from Bill McWhorter was made to discuss the remarkable way David Houston came to check on us and rescue us from a predicament on the Missouri River.
Third, a new friend I met recently in South Carolina. Professor John Lancaster sent me his “Ministry Minutes”. John’s academic background is history. I have studied art history and have tried to imagine life as an artist in historical contexts.
The coming together of Clarke’s drawing, Bill’s observation of our river experience and John’s most recent message is affirmation of “Being Sent”. The feeling of being sent has dwelled in me since I was a child, but it did not become real, substantial or complete until I found encouragement from friends and confidence in my gift of imagination. Then I took to heart a quote by Billy Graham: “I am a traveler in this world, just passing through, my real home is in heaven. And I recall words I wrote for my mother’s funeral: There is a long and winding road. The path will lead to home. Do not fear things that threaten along the way. But do prepare for a time to come when your spirit will live with the ones you have loved.
In conclusion, the feeling of eternal spirits and the intuition of being sent is articulated by my friend John Lancaster:
A Sense of Sent-ness
Forty times in the book of John, Jesus referred to Himself as being sent by the Father. In Luke 6:13 we read that Jesus “called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles”, a word that means, “to be sent” or “sent one”. Mark said, “… He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out …” (Mark 3:14). Following His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you” (John 20:21).
Jesus and the early disciples possessed a clear “sense of sent-ness.” As Christ-followers, we also have been appointed, commissioned, and sent to represent Him in words and works wherever we are. It's clear from the Scriptures; there is no secular/sacred distinction in life. Before God, all of life matters. God has sent professors to their university, their department, their colleagues and their students. Not only that, God promises to empower and equip us for the works He's prepared for us to do.
Colossians 3:23-24 applies to our situation: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.