Flames Of Fire

A couple of weeks ago, I had plans to go out-of-state.  At the same time, life was unraveling at home and I was feeling a tad guilty for abandoning my family.  One of the reasons for the trip: I found flights on Southwest Airlines for $58 Roundtrip to Phoenix. The price included fees, taxes and airfare.  How could I not go?

I was on the phone with my lovely sister-in-law, explaining my predicament.  I was happy to be coming for a visit, but how could I enjoy myself knowing I was leaving my family in need.  Kathleen, my tell-it-like-it-is sister-in-law, set me straight.

"Joanne," she began, "the world does NOT revolve around you."

"What?"

"No, it does not.  When you get on that plane, leaving your family behind, the world will NOT stop spinning. It will not fall off its axis and life will not fall apart."

Oh my word!  I laughed.  I wasn't sure whether I should be offended or relieved.  The world does not revolve around me, people.  And that means: it doesn't revolve around you either!

I should have had this figured out by now.  The last time I went out of town, life was strangely quiet.  My phone never rang.  I didn't receive a single message.  Every hour or so, I would pull out my phone, convinced I missed a call or text.  Could I really go a full 2.5 days without someone needing me?  Nobody phoned to ask how to work the crockpot, or where we keep the laundry soap.  Nobody called to ask my advice in handling a difficult situation.   Nobody asked when I was coming home.  Have I really become a mere mortal that the world can truly live without????  Shocking!

This trip was originally scheduled as a time for Michael and I to get away for a few days.  As it frequently  happens, in my attempt to accommodate the most people, the date and circumstances of our trip changed several times.  In the end, this meant my parents would be gone for the first part of my visit to Arizona, Michael would not be my travel companion, and rather than coming along, his mother chose to have a medical procedure that week.  This is where guilt entered the equation.  I'm ever so grateful for Kathleen's perspective that helped kick it to the curb.

Having no responsibilities and no guilt, it was wonderfully refreshing to look at the world around me with new eyes.  My parents drove their new car to California so my father could attend his 55th high school reunion.  How awesome is that?  I spent time with my sisters and brother. I had the pleasure of getting to know my nieces and nephews a little better and was able to appreciate their many talents and giftings.  I had conversations about religion, politics, philosophies, even music. I met new people and spent time doing arts and crafts.  My parents returned. We went out to dinner nearly every night. 

The day before I returned home, my parents and I went to the Musical Instrument Museum.  We spent 4 hours listening to music, learning about the musical culture of other countries through their instruments, and the history of music in our own country.  I feared my parents would be worn out from walking and standing for so long.  I was wrong.  On the way home, we stopped at a clock shop to peruse their wares.  We then enjoyed another fine meal of dining out.

So what is the point of this post?  This trip caused me to realize, in more ways than one, that I've let some of my passions in life fade to indifference.  Without vision, without passion, people perish. Time to light the fire, fan the flames, and ignite the passion.  Look out world!

Truthfully,

Joanne

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.^"  Revelation 3:15-16