Tag: pilgrim

Path Meditations

James HoganLeave a comment

Why do all my songs of late so often mention that pilgrim path? I like to think of the forest green and beautiful and then that path that winds ever on and on through the thick of the trees and brush to end up on that far shore that calls my name. The path imagery is an old one and indeed one that has been used often throughout the past ages. One thinks of life as a journey from birth to the far unknown and there is no more natural metaphor than that of a path. So I suppose I could say that I am not being particularly original with my creative prose and poetry when I so often go back to that ancient well. Yet sometimes the tried and true is best. There is no confusion when I talk of the pilgrim on the path and the trials and travails that may beset him as he walks on. There is a nodding of the head and an echoing in the heart. We all have walked on paths through the forest before – or at least most of us have, I daresay – and we are all of necessity making our way through life as a pilgrim who comes from dust and will end as dust. So of course. One could use other metaphors of course, and I often have. I like to imagine one sailing on a ship towards that far horizon and that eternal shore. Of course, this is only another angle of the same pilgrimage. We are still going from one place to another, from one time to another. Only the setting and scenery change.

So at the end of the day, as I reflect on the fact that I perhaps use this imagery of a path too often to express the longings of my heart, I come to the realization that I don’t really mind this. I do not believe I am exposing my creative vacuousness. Instead, I believe I am expressing a simple faith. I know I have been created from nothing and though on this earth I may also appear to be progressing towards eventual nothingness, I have a hope that this is not entirely so. Instead, I look forward to the resurrection of the body, a resurrection that is prefigured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself, who even now stands in heaven above and advocates for me his little brother. I have a hope and faith that someday I will in my own body stand before my God and with my own eyes gaze upon his glory. This is my song, my salvation!

And so? Perhaps my writing may start with a path, but it is not a path in isolation. There is a destination and a place where the walking stops and perhaps a fire on the beach to welcome me to my eternal rest as I prepare to feast with my Lord God at that wedding supper. I do not walk without purpose. And I do not walk alone.

Seashore

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, friends! A Monday dawns and light breaks upon us in waves and soon the heat shall follow and we shall be reminded that yes indeed, summer is in full bloom. I wish I could say I’m grateful for summer’s heat but I don’t know if my gratitude for creation’s glory can stretch quite that far. Ah I suppose I could talk myself into it somehow. Summer is a good and proper season and the heat does make one sigh with wistful longing in anticipation for autumn’s arrival, so there is that. Summer – it’s here. July is a month that we know is going to be hot and that is that and no use complaining about it, so I shan’t.

But instead what I shall I use these few minutes before work to talk about? I don’t know, really. I opened this page knowing I had a few minutes so why not write something? I suppose I could say I’m just grateful for the time I had this morning to read the Word and meditate on God’s goodness to me. Even with not quite enough sleep last night (watching the scintillating England/Mexico game – England pulled out an all-time classic win in Mexico City – on the Lions!), I still was able to roll out of bed prior to 5am and get a shower, make coffee and then sit myself down and give myself some nice uninterrupted time to read.

Psalm 46, Proverbs 6, a series of depressing but inspired chapters in Jeremiah – oh how convicting it is to read such and oh how it makes me feel I ought be praying more for mercy for myself and our community and nation – and then beautiful chapters in Luke on the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Got to read Luke 7 and the story of Jesus with the woman who was a sinner. One of my all-time favourite passages and one that never fails to bring me to a halt as I consider and ponder what my Lord has done for me. Oh how beautiful it is to think on the fact that Jesus has forgiven me all my sin. I have been forgiven much. I have been forgiven everything!! How great then ought be my love? Utterly convicting to feel how often my love is cold and dry and how often I fail to be constantly praising my Lord and God for what he has done for me. I need to spend more time meditating on the wonder that is my salvation and my forever communion with my God. What a glorious thing it is to consider that I am a child of God. I have life with God and I have it to the full. I abide in Christ and in him I find true rest. This yoke is indeed easy, this burden is indeed light. In Christ and in Christ alone do I have rest for my soul. It is good to sit at the feet of Jesus this day. Oh how I long for that someday far off trumpet call and that moment when the horizon blurs with light as I see the last dawning and behold the consummation of all things as creation is made new. Oh how I long for that day when the sky quivers and the clouds break and my Lord Jesus Christ stands before my resurrected frame. For now, I tremble in dust and ashes. Someday though, I shall see my Lord with my own eyes, even though now my flesh and my heart are oh so prone to failing. Thank you, Lord, for taking me by the hand each and every moment. Please Lord, lead me to glory.

Tidings of Comfort

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Monday, dear friends!! I meant to write a few more words than I now have time for(maybe I should postpone checking my email until *after* I’ve written my planned entry!). Anyways, it’s a gorgeous December morning here(52 degrees as I drove to work – delightful!!) and I got to listen to some rousing Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas music on my drive to work. Now, I’m sipping on my hazelnut mocha and enjoying the peace that comes with an early morning. But seriously, I didn’t come here to talk about my coffee and this beautiful morning. I really wanted to write a review of my most recent favorite book. The long-form review may have to wait, so a snippet will have to suffice. Dallimore’s George Whitefield – ever heard of it? Well, I just started reading it last week for the first time. I’ve owned it for a while now, but finally decided to take a little break from Owens(love Owens, but can only take so much at one time!!) and read this biography. And wow, is it excellent – why did I wait this long?? I can’t think of a good way to say this without sounding exceedingly arrogant, but – I’ve read some 240 pages in the past five days…and I’m having trouble putting it down when I really should be doing other things. Thankfully, it’s a nicely massive two volume biography, so I have plenty more still to read. Anyways – since I really *don’t* have a lot of time to write, just wanted to state simply how much this book has blessed me these past few days – it has truly enlivened my heart and warmed my soul. Reading about this great man of God – so mightily full of the Spirit and yet so humble before the Lord – has been oh so encouraging. (And a tad bit convicting. Whitefield started his ministry when he was…about six years younger than I am now. Hm) And I just love reading about what God has done. God is working – always! And just as He worked through Whitefield and others, so He will(and is!) working through me, despite my weaknesses and frailty. Praise be to God – amen and amen! And it drives me to want to know more about what God has for me in my future – I want to serve God with every thread of my being and I tremble at bringing shame to His name by my failings. Oh how I long to glorify God every moment of every day – may that not be a thought for far-off heaven time. No, this is what I strive for here and now – to know God truly and to make Him known. And to witness His beauty and rest in the glories of His presence and to be oh so aware of His Spirit resting in me and to never cease from being in awe of the eternal lovingkindness of the Lord God of hosts. This is my prayer. May God keep me humble before Him. May God make me mighty in His power. May God keep me safe in His loving arms. Forever and always.