Note Card: Foundation for the Storm

Written on a 4x6 note card by Stan Julin.

[Blog Author's Note:  I have been holding the note card which follows in reserve so that I might share it first at my father's memorial service.  Written during the time that it was occuring to him that something was going wrong inside his head but before that problem altered his ability to write logically, he writes in contemplation of his efforts to build a solid foundation for his life.]

Luke 6:48:  Because of the war in my heart in recent times, when I came upon this scripture this time around it seemed to describe that which I have inadequately tried to describe elsewhere.  Could it be that at some time in a man's life he will encounter a storm and a flood that will prove him?  This is no small matter.  A man builds whatever it is that totals up the sum of his life.  All his life he is building.  Perhaps he does not perceive it that way.  His values, faith - or lack of it, his perception of truth - if he cares, his awareness of coming judgement, his image of God in the sense of how he perceives him, the seriousness of life as to the account he will have to render, the time and effort he invests into finding out and inquiring after God, the weight he assigns to God's Words, the weight of meaning he feels of this life and its significance, his sorrow for his sins, how he has affected other people, the debt of dishonor he has accumulated to be scrutinized in due time...

  

Things such as these are scoffed and ignored by many.  I am sixty-nine years old.  My time is drawing near.  An interview is scheduled.  The flood is upon me.  I want the stones, not about my neck, but under my feet.  Every man must deal with the flood, the realization that either he has been preparing or ignoring the foundation as he builds.  Now is my storm.  Some do not even know what the stones are.  I know where I have built.  It is in the storm that a man does most of his thinking about his foundation.  He may have done well with it, but the flood and the storm will make him wonder.  If I am right, it is in the latter part of life that the storm comes.