I've been doing some reading and some thinking lately.....as is normal for me and for most of us, I suppose. What I've been thinking about is how when we are asked about our life's goal those of us who believe in God will answer, "Getting to heaven."

This is a good answer, of course. But after someone (an author I have been reading) said something that put the thought into my mind, I wonder if it is really the goal we need. That is because somehow when our goal is "getting to heaven" we go into the mindset of "being good" and get out our "report cards" in hope of filling them with all A's.

In the process of trying to get all A's we can lose sight of the present time. We forget to be thankful for each day. We forget to love those around us. We spend so much thought of trying to get to where we aren't that we forget to live where we are!

I wonder how my life (and yours) would change if my goal was to try to have a real relationship with God here today. What if I really try to be thankful? What would happen if I really try to live each moment with a sense of wonder like the little children that Jesus told us we must be like? What would happen if I truly spent my time really walking with Jesus here?

It comes to me that many of us want to get to heaven so badly, and yet we never try to get to know Jesus here. I wonder how it will be to spend eternity in praise and adoration for someone we haven't even tried to get to know.

So my new goal is to get to know Jesus better. It is to walk with Him in relationship so I can be comfortable with Him when he does take me home with Him as He has promised. I am working on thanksgiving, concern for others, and trying to find the wonder in things about me.

Love to all of you!