I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey....
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things....
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise....
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God....
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things....
I got nothing that I asked for -
but everything that I had hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
I asked for a sign or an angel to boost my faith. I was given a friend like Ed to inspire me to write what I now believe:
We must experience now, in our time as humans, separateness. We were designed to love life and love one another. The closest we will get to unity is when we love. We are not yet unified in spirit, but closer when we experience Agape Love. I believe we will become one with the Great Designer after our separate time is over, providing we can properly function as we were designed.
For me, my design instructor is Jesus who modeled Agape Love.
Finally - I believe we can be together in a dimension some describe as Heaven. In such a reality we will remember the separate time as humans in a way that will enrich the new time with God.
The Agape Spirit we can share is a glimpse of Heaven. Before we return to Heaven, our real home, we must be tested in the human form (life school) to receive learning opportunities and to be tested before we face challenges. The challenges will be no more difficult than my teacher Jesus the Christ faced. He received very little comfort from other humans and had to rely almost entirely on Spirit from one he loved and called Father. We all have known someone who was tested, some had unimaginably difficult tests. You do not know what or how you will manage your final exam. But, you can study now and prepare by loving this life and by loving others.
So while we are here, let us heed what I also believe are God’s words:
Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
John 3:5: Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
P.S.
Ed was a great supporter of Boy Scouts and both of his Sons Schuyler and Ralls earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Ed inspired me many times. As an artist there are times when I need an energizing spiritual boost to be productive. With Ed’s encouragement even after he passed away, I was motivated to create
eagle paintings for Schuyler and Ralls.