What's Important?
Posted by Ray Norris on 05 May, 2010
Category General
Today I was serving as a volunteer chaplain for Lincoln Police Department and Lincoln Fire and Rescue. I really enjoy that volunteer work and generally take about four days per month. What made today different was what happened right after lunch. I needed to go home to drop something off and on my way I thought I would stop at Fire Station 12 on South 84th Street just to say hello. About the time I turned off 84th I heard an alert on the police radio that chaplains are equipped with. To hear **ATTENTION ALL UNITS** is not that unusual, but this time it hit home. Dispatch stated that fire alarms were going off in the apartment building we live in. My heart began to race, the adrenalin began to flow. I swerved back onto the road and headed quickly for home. I knew my wife was at work so I didn't worry about that. But I thought, almost out loud, "If there is a fire, what do I want to save?"
The first thing that came to my mind was our two cats. One is about 15 years old and the other was our daughter's cat and has quickly won a spot in our hearts. The next thing I decided to get was my computer tower. It has all of my documents on it, all of my financial records, family pictures, etc. Then I began to think of other items such as some small antiques that are family pieces.
When I parked in front of the building I could hear the alarms on the inside, but there was no smoke so I cautiously went in since we are on the ground floor. I entered our unit and couldn't smell smoke anywhere. Lucky because the noise had frightened the cats and they were hiding somewhere. By that time the Fire Department had arrived from two stations along with a Battalion Commander. They quickly checked each unit and soon determined there was no fire. Our cats, the computer, our memories were all safe.
But it did cause both my wife and I to think about what is most important to us. It is not the THINGS in the china cabinet or even the computer files. That which is most important is our relationship with each other, the love we have shared for nearly 44 years, our family and friends, and foremost, our Lord Jesus Christ from whom all our blessings have come. It is that relationship which has allowed us to share our love all these years. It is his grace that has given us the assurance of eternal life. Disasters, natural and man made, can take away all of our material possessions but there is nothing that can take away the grace of God. He is the one who says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. I am with you always, even to the ends of the age."
What is it that is most important to you?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ray
The first thing that came to my mind was our two cats. One is about 15 years old and the other was our daughter's cat and has quickly won a spot in our hearts. The next thing I decided to get was my computer tower. It has all of my documents on it, all of my financial records, family pictures, etc. Then I began to think of other items such as some small antiques that are family pieces.
When I parked in front of the building I could hear the alarms on the inside, but there was no smoke so I cautiously went in since we are on the ground floor. I entered our unit and couldn't smell smoke anywhere. Lucky because the noise had frightened the cats and they were hiding somewhere. By that time the Fire Department had arrived from two stations along with a Battalion Commander. They quickly checked each unit and soon determined there was no fire. Our cats, the computer, our memories were all safe.
But it did cause both my wife and I to think about what is most important to us. It is not the THINGS in the china cabinet or even the computer files. That which is most important is our relationship with each other, the love we have shared for nearly 44 years, our family and friends, and foremost, our Lord Jesus Christ from whom all our blessings have come. It is that relationship which has allowed us to share our love all these years. It is his grace that has given us the assurance of eternal life. Disasters, natural and man made, can take away all of our material possessions but there is nothing that can take away the grace of God. He is the one who says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. I am with you always, even to the ends of the age."
What is it that is most important to you?
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ray