Into Eternity

You're Becoming Who You Will Be...Forever

One of my friends is moving away from Waco. She gave me a going away gift. It’s on my wall; the photo is below. It is a wooden plaque. It displays a quotation from Dallas Willard saying:

The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity.

Willard also wrote, “We are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe.” That doesn’t make our doings unimportant. I believe work done in Christ and unto the Lord will last into eternity.

But what we do is a product of who we are and who we are becoming. And who we are and who we are becoming will be carried with us into eternity. Our destiny is not only to become a slightly improved version of our present selves, but conformity to Christ, who is our head, unification with God, and glorification, by the Spirit’s power.

Willard’s meant a lot to me. His books The Divine Conspiracy, Renovation of the Heart, and The Spirit of the Disciplines have been foundational for my life with God and have greatly influenced my approach to teaching and instructing others in the area of Christian spiritual formation.

Usually, going away gifts are given to the person who is going away, not by the person who is going away. I’m thankful for the reversal, and for my friend. Our road has divided. She goes her way; I continue on mine.

Since we’re both on an eternal path, I trust that one day our roads will once again converge in God’s great universe.

Imagine who we’ll be then.

Book Notes

Still reading Ron Chernow’s Washington. I finished Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes!

I continue reading a book by Sonke Ahrens called How to Take Smart Notes.

I’ve begun Isaac Asimov’s Second Foundation.

Sights and Sounds

Here are my May tunes.

Bob Johns visited Truett chapel this past week. It was great.

Continuing to listen to Spoon while I’m writing, working, etc. From “Inside Out:” I don't got time for holy rollers / Though they may wash my feet / And I won't be their soldier.”

You’re probably thinking of one kind of holy roller, but these days, they’re everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, of various ideological stripes, attempting to enlist anyone and everyone. We’re all seeking converts.

Last Words

On the blog: modern art, verse by Oswald Chambers, and thought’s on Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.

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Be well this week. Bless others.

Best,

BAS

P.S. - This is my desk at Truett. The plaque with the Willard quote is the latest addition. Look closely, and you’ll see Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Jesus action figures, Moses, a cassette tape set of Johnny Cash reading the New Testament, coffee mugs from Dallas Theological Seminary, Truett Seminary, and Truett Seminary’s Wesley House, and PhilosophyNews.com, a paperweight from Salado Glassworks, an original stained glass piece made by Jennea Pilcher, a collage of Numbers 6:24-26 made by my friend Susan DeLong, photos of Martin Luther King, Jr., artwork citing Psalm 27:1, a picture of my family at Big Bend National Park, challenge coins from the Baylor Chamber of Commerce and Veterans of Baylor, and a rock that says “Serve.” Also, there is a little plaque expressing appreciation for Floyd Prather, who supported the Spiritual Formation Suite (where my desk is) in memory of Frances Durham Prather. That plaque was installed in 2002, when the Truett building was dedicated.