The

End

The

End

The Signs of the End

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”

He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’^* Do not follow them!

When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.”

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

Book of Luke

I lost my fear of death in an airplane in my late thirties. We’d just taken off from Dallas on our way to Detroit when I noticed the plane was not gaining much altitude. Having the experience of many many flights under my belt, over a million miles in the air at that point, I knew something was amiss. Sure enough, within a few minutes, the pilot came on.

“Folks. We have an indicator light showing something. Now it’s probably just a malfunction in the light but just to be on the safe side we are going to land in Houston and check things out. As part of our precautions in a situation like this we are going to dump the fuel and ask the flight attendants to prepare you for an emergency landing.”

Sure enough, within minutes I saw the fuel pouring out of the wings. Later, I wonder where it went as we were at a very low altitude, and I thought some of it must have fallen on houses and yards. Then the flight attendant came on, and the other staff sought to help people prepare and spread a sense of calmness.

“Ladies and gentlemen. This is just a precaution but we need to prepare for an emergency landing. I need you to get all your seats in an upright position, tray tables up, and everything stowed as secure as possible. Then when we tell you we need you all to tuck down and brace” (This is the old stick your head between your legs and kiss you know what goodbye).

I glanced at the couple to the left of me who were so intertwined in fear I could not tell if there was one person or two. I glanced to my right and saw a man gripping his seat handles so hard his knuckles were pure white.

A strange peace came over me. I knew, up until that time in my life, I had done my best. I provided for my family and then some. I was deeply entrenched in my faith already and practiced it, not just in going to church but already trying and following the teaching of my Master for well over a decade, almost two, all the time, every day. I figured if it was my time to go, I’d done the best I can to be ready.

Needless to say, the flight ended without incident except for the cheers when we were finally back on the surface of Mother Earth.

When one reads the news today you can’t help noticing the similarities between what our Master said two thousand plus years ago and what is going on today. It’s like Fatty Bolgar in the Fellowship of the ring shouting through the Shire, “Awake! Fear, Fire, Foes!”, as the black horseman pursued Frodo.

There is war of all kinds everywhere, missiles, now drones, cyber-attacks. No one is safe. Then there are the record-breaking wildfires where they never burned before consuming parts of major cities like LA and a quarter of Canada, more than the average earthquakes, volcanoes erupting, horrible super typhoons in the Pacific (thank God Florida was spared so far this year). And then there is the rampant corruption and the disregard for the rule of law.

Does make you wonder.

But I rest easy in my faith, my hope, and my ongoing effort to love Him and all He created. Aside from those created in His Image and likeness, I am blessed to live in a place that once you hit the rain forest mountains, or to the east the cascades, with of course, “The Mountain”, Rainier.

I do not worry about ‘The End’. I spend my time being ready, in thought, word and action. Surviving much more than one ‘close call’ probably helps.

And I rejoice in the glory of His creation out here in the Great Pacific Northwest where all is different and you never know as you round a corner whether there be deer, elk, a bear, or a mountain lion. Thank goodness the Grizzlies are far to the Northeast.

The mountains, the streams, the great conifers that cover the land, the hills, and the mountains up to the tree lines drop my jaw in awe every time I see them which is pretty much all the time when I go out on an errand or doctor appointment, since we at the base of Pungent Sound are surrounded.

Yes, the ‘Sound’ and the magic of the greatest sea, the Pacific. I see His touches everywhere and astounded by His acts of Creation that overwhelm my senses.

So, I do not worry so much about the end. If we witness it, we do. In the meantime, I will revel and enjoy what He gives us; others like Him, created in His Image and Likeness, or all the immense and overflowing work of his creation in the trees, the deciduous now aflame in yellows (the Aspens) and the fluorescent oranges and reds of trees loosing there leaves (mostly maples), indication the coming of winter, the white death (or in our case the rivers of rain at our elevation).

The cycles continue despite us. We learn much from His Creation and our impact on it. Less impact is good.

So…

We Love Him for all He is and does for us, endless is His mercy and grace

We love one another as He loves us, endlessly.

Clement

fishtownprductions.com…. clementcharles.substack.com