13. Day-by-Day Praise

iii. Going on Holiday - Packing up

We're packed up now.

Two suitcases, cabin bags, her purse, my camera,

Tickets and other papers in pocket.

It's holiday time.

But already my arm is aching with the weight of the bag!

Couldn't we go light this time?

No. Clothes for about three climates, wet and dry.

Formal and casual,

Inside and out. And shoes!

Will I need a clothes change in heaven, Lord?

Or is it one robe for ever?

No moth or rust to corrode. 1

I guess nothing will wear out, or tear, or get dirty?

The garment of praise? 2 The robe of righteousness? 3

But I'm not going to need a suitcase when I make the big trip.

Funny that!

Travelling nude.

Well it looks as though we've got to go now,

I'm being called,

And we're all "dressed up to kill"

Funny that!

On the big trip, I'll be "all stripped down to live."

1. Matthew 6: 20

2. Isaiah 61: 3

3. Isaiah 61: 10

It is very important to take the Lord with us on holiday or vacation. It can be easy to have a break from church, or even leave one's Bible at home. Having a break from church is OK, but going to a different one is better. The important thing is to use the relaxation time of vacation to permit the Lord to penetrate your thinking and prayer time in new ways. Very often holiday means a new set of experiences, perhaps places, people, and especially activities. Each of these has its own set of symbolism that can teach us something about life, and if used in the right way, can bring us close to the Lord.

This prayer is based on the very mundane activity of "packing up".

Now I guess, it would be fair to say that this prayer is "gently eccentric". That's OK. I'm actually quite proud of that label. All it means is - "Does not conform to the expected." I think that it's very important to present one's real self to the Lord in conversational prayer. One can't always do this in public in leading worship, or at a prayer meeting, because here, one needs to lead others in prayer, and it is important to use the language of the cultural setting and to avoid distracting people. In personal and devotional prayer, it is important to be yourself. That doesn't mean that it 's OK to use obscene language even if that is has been your practice in the world. We come to speak to the Father, to Eternal God, to the Son, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and to be encouraged by the Spirit. He / they need to be addressed with respect, and in purity, but we also need to come as we are. Already God knows everything we think and feel so absolute honesty and openness is required.

So if I am gently eccentric, it's OK for that to show - provided that it's natural and not forced.

So: - "Will I need a clothes change in heaven?" "I'm not going to need a suitcase for the big trip" and "funny that - travelling nude."

Yet this "eccentricity" summarises some deep truths - "dressed up to kill" versus "stripped down to live". What's life all about anyway? Real life is to praise and serve the Lord. We try now, but one day, we will do so more completely - without the trappings of today.

Be honest in your prayers. Be open, and be yourself.

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved.

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