There is a poem by Emily Dickinson where the first 3 lines read –
“Behind me dips Eternity,
Before me Immortality,
Myself the term between – “
When I think about the timeline of my life, I often consider it a continuation of various decisions made by generations before me. I am but a continuation of a straight line, not calling much attention to myself in the grand scheme of things such as eternity and immortality. Those things are way bigger than me and aren’t phased by the existence of Ellie Miller for 80 or so years. However, reading this poem I was struck with the self-actualization that I, in fact, am noticed by such grand things as eternity and immortality. So much so that Eternity and Immortality stop to take a breath and there in that little pause is everything I know and will know to be dear. My first steps as a toddler, my first words, graduating high school, starting a career, getting married, having kids, growing old. && so many more possibilities. All of that is the human experience wrapped up in one breath before immortality takes hold and wisks me (being the phrase in between) away. It can all be so overwhelming and limiting on the importance of life to oppress it to a single breath, but so much happens in that breath. The trips to get ice cream with my little sister who is growing up too fast. The stolen laughs using borrowed time with my grandmother. The pain in my neck from craning up at the stars for too long.
Before I go to Heaven I have this ‘in between.’ I can let it be but a breath in the grand scheme of things, or I can choose into everyday – choose into the ‘Life Forevermore’ talked about in Psalm 133 and the life that the enemy tries to scare us out of in Hebrews 2. But as for me and my ‘in between’ I will choose life with the father; heaven on earth.
What will you choose for your ‘breath’ in the timeline of history?
We are only promised today so stop postponing your dreams or purpose for ‘another day.’ That day is today and that person is you.
Breathing deep,
El
