Remembering

On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. They found written in the law how The Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month. So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written." 

The people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops, and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and square by the Gate of Ephraim. The who,e community that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. They had not celebrated this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy. Ezra read out of e book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance. Nehemiah 8:13-18

I can understand the joy these people would experience. In studying the scripture they were discovering their heritage.

This morning I had a call from a woman at Rotary asking me to do a talk in October and I have been asked to share my profile, or my history.

Tonight I was excited and began digging through all my treasures, photos and cards and the like. It took me back to my early days. I found old certificates, old newspaper articles and I began to remember. Taking time to go back, at the right time, can be good for the soul. I discovered little mementos I had kept, given to me by my children when they could barely spell. I found a birthday card given to me when I was 18, a long time ago. I found my diving certificate and log book, something I had wanted to find as I hope to revisit diving in the near future. I found  videos of when I jumped out of an aeroplane, with a parachute, a photo of me playing golf, while pregnant with my son, (who is now 31) on top of Linderman Island.

Now, imagine discovering the handbook of behaviour that the knowing of it's contents would explain a whole lot of why things went wrong or right for that matter. I know that when I find the manual for anything I do not understand and read it, the ahh factor kicks in.

Now, imagine how God was enjoying this. I think He would be having a joyous time, don't you?