Posts Tagged ‘Heaven’

Why I Love the Olympics

Posted in Current Events on 02/15/2010 12:35 am by Ronnica

There’s just something special about the Olympics, isn’t there?

My love of the Olympics is two-fold.  First, I simply enjoy watching sports.  I think it brings out the competitive side of me.  While I obviously have a preference of what sports I watch (college football, college basketball, PGA majors…in that order), I can watch almost anything and enjoy it.  The only known exception is soccer…blech.

As far as Olympics sports go, I’m pretty predictable.  My favorite winter sport is figure skating, and my favorite summer sports are gymnastics and swimming (probably because I know how fast they’re swimming).

But really, the second reason is what I want to talk about.  It’s the global aspect of it: people from all countries (except for our warm-loving friends for the Winter Olympics) come together for one cause.  Of course, we need to remember that world peace isn’t possible on our own terms.  But there is something special about people from different peoples coming together…reminds me of what heaven will look like.

Now THAT’ll be a place of world peace.

Photo by Dieter Drescher

Tidbits

Posted in Mixed Bag on 10/30/2009 12:29 am by Ronnica

- When I think of the word “tidbits” I think of pineapple.

- The other night I had a dream where I had gone to heaven and we were able to fly.  I wonder if we’ll be able to fly…I mean, I don’t think we’d have wings or anything.  Just pondering.

- I can’t believe in one week I’ll be on my way to Turkey.  Don’t worry, I’ll give you all more details, etc.

- I have 16 books checked out from the library, but I haven’t finished one since the Read-a-thon.  Between being sick and working long days, I’ve been exhausted in the evenings.

- I had thought that I’d lose my voice this time around, but now it’s not looking (sounding? feeling?) like it.  Which is definitely a good thing.

- I want to read Catching Fire, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get it from the library before going to Turkey.  I’ll have to put my requests on hold, and be pushed to the bottom of the list.  Almost tempted to give a friend access to my email account and my library card to check it out when it comes in while I’m gone.  No, I’ll be patient.

- Speaking of Turkey, I’m not quite ready to go.  I mean, of course I haven’t packed, but I also haven’t created a packing list (though I did list all the OTC medicine I’ll need).  The only things set out to pack are the books I’m going to take with me…  I might not have clothes or the things I need for the lessons I’ll teach, but at least I’ll be able to read on the planes!

- Have a great (safe!) Halloween weekend!

Happiness in the Little Pool or in the Big Pond?

Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl on 07/07/2008 08:07 am by Ronnica
There was a frog in our pool yesterday. Though I’ve always been scared of almost anything non-human that moves, frogs are probably among the least scary to me. I didn’t want him out of the pool because I was scared, but because I knew that he couldn’t be truly happy there.

After watching him swim around for a while as he no doubt was enjoying the bugs that had accumulated on the surface of the pool over the holiday weekend, he went towards the edge and appeared to be wanting to get out. My roommate decided to help him. She scooped him up, and put him on the edge of the pool.

And there he sat. For a good several minutes, he didn’t move a muscle. He was shocked. He had been removed from the water environment he no doubt felt comfortable in. Nevermind the poisonous chemicals that were getting into his skin there. There was food. And water. And recreation.

You see, we knew that there was a much better home for him in the pond, only a few yards away. But as long as he remained in the adequate home, he could never enjoy the nutrient-rich bug-friendly natural waters that are his true home. He needed a little push to get their, as he certainly wasn’t willing to start on the journey alone. Besides, who wants to leave a place that you are enjoying for the promise of something grander that may not appear?

This frog reminds me of my desire for heaven. When I get caught up in the enjoyments of this world, the beauty and attraction of heaven grows dimmer. At some points, heaven doesn’t seem all that appealing. Who needs heaven when I can have Diet Dr. Pepper, Gilmore Girls, and Facebook whenever I want? No doubt you’re tempted by other luxuries, but you get the picture. I’m happy enough where I am, swimming around in the pool eating the yummy flies just waiting for me on the surface.

Fortunately, I have a Father in heaven that knows what is best for me, and like my roommate, will scoop me out of this world and remind me that my true home is somewhere much more grand, somewhere where I truly belong. I’m afraid I need that reminder all to often, but when He does bring it to mind, my heart once again yearns for the day that my sin will be removed and I will see my Savior face-to-face. And when I think about how joyous that day will be, the cares around me and my earthly desires lose their grip on me.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” – Philippians 3:20 NASU