Come, follow me . . .

Yesterday I visited the cardiologist and found that I have ventricular tacchycardia, a condition that many people live with without incident, but that I need an echocardiogram and a heart catheterization to rule out blockage, which, undiagnosed, could complicate things. I am unconcerned about the echocardiogram, but the heart cath procedure is a bit daunting to me. I have two weeks to get fortified. By then I should be able to be courageous. For now, these are my thoughts . . .

Several years ago the children and I had a precious gentleman friend, a grandfather-type, named Lloyd, who delighted in taking us on excursions to show us different wonders of nature. He would meet us with a bright gleam in his eye and say, "Come here! I want to show you something!" Sometimes the wonder would be a backyard treasure - berries growing on a vine, hot peppers growing in the garden, a groundhog peeking out of his hole. Sometimes it would be an adventure like a day at the lake fishing from his boat. We noticed that the harder the treasure was to get to, the better it was. Our times with Lloyd were precious. Our lives are richer for having known him. He told me once that even the smallest piece of pie tastes twice as good if you share it with someone.

Lloyd has touched my understanding of the Scriptures. When I read that God would come to Eden to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening, I can imagine him meeting them with that same bright gleam in his eye. I can almost hear him say, "Come, follow me! I want to show you something!" Can you imagine the beauties that he shared with them? Waterfalls, touch-me-nots, bumblebees, butterflies, a lioness with her young, otters playing in a lake . . . and, it was all brand new and untouched by sin! Those wonders were made for us and await us when we get home.

Or, perhaps those treasures await us now. In my current trial, I think I heard Him whisper, "Come, follow me! I want to show you something." The way is a little bit hard for me. I feel like I'm climbing over rocks and balancing on precarious places, but I know that the LORD is faithful, and I must follow faithfully if I want to see what wondrous treasure He has in store for me. I imagine that when I get there I'll realize that it was there all along, but I can't get the full effect until I follow and look back. I wonder what it is. Is it my family and friends who are supporting me along the way? Is it renewed health? Is it a more intimate relationship with Him? Is it freedom from some of the chains that bind me to this earth? Is it something eternal? I don't know. For now, what I do know is that Jesus loves me and it will be worth the adventure because He is faithful. I'm counting on that.