A few months ago I was visiting Memory Grove park in Salt Lake City while our daughter and her fiancé took engagement photos. I was put in charge of their golden retriever named “Zero” so while walking him around the park I took some time to visit some of the memorials of the different wars that were located all over the park. One particular plaque I read made me think about what happened to their spirits after losing their lives.
MY SOUL LIES NOT IN ALIEN SEAS NOR UNDER FOREIGN SOD. IT IS HERE WITH YOU, TODAY, IN THE WARM SWEET SMILE OF GOD. “GREATER LOVE THAN THIS,” WAS A CHALLANGE ACCEPTED WITH PRIDE. BE PATIENT THEN UNTIL AGAIN I’M STANDING AT YOUR SIDE. MY OUTSTRECHED ARMS AWAIT YOU CLOSE BY THE GREAT WHITE THRONE. MY HEART, TOO, IS ACHING FOR YOU. BUT EACH SHALL KNOW ITS OWN. AND EACH SHALL CLAIM ITS OWN. IN A LOVE EVERLASTING AND DEAR. WHEN, ALL SORROW FORGOTTEN, THE PURPOSE OF LIFE IS CLEAR. THE TEARS AND FEARS AND HEARTACHE WILL FADE AND DIM AND SUBSIDE. AND EVERY DOUBT WILL VANISH, AND ALL WILL BE JUSTIFIED. AND MY ACHING ARMS SHALL CLASP YOU, OH SO CLOSE, TO MY BREAST. OUR LONGING SHALL FIND FULFILLMENT THEN; WITH GOD BE THE REST.
After reading this I was stuck with the clarity we should have regarding the purpose of this life. My main character’s grandfather did his best to instill in him the purpose of helping out mankind wherever possible. Then by acting on the promptings of the Holy Spirit we will be put in position to do God’s work in so many different ways. We don’t know when or where we will be called but we should always be prepared when prompted.
