Contentment

I seem to be drawn to the Puritan preachers of old. This morning the voice of Jeremiah Burroughs speaks to me again through the printed word.
Burroughs lived from 1600 until 1646 and was a Congregationalist Puritan preacher who gained a ton of spiritual insight in his short life. The only writings I have read of his are on the subject of contentment and he seems to have fully understood and attained that sometimes elusive state of being. He saw himself as a traveler through time and space, but he also saw himself as a soldier. Having a son who is a Marine and who has endured the hardships of living in Afghanistan for a period of time has helped me appreciate Burrough's musings this morning.
When life and its demands were more manageable than they are at present, I breezed along enjoying the benefits. Contentment was a built- in component of my days. I am sorry to say that I took much for granted. But when my about-face occurred my contentment foundation faltered and I was asked to establish a new basis for it....to find and embrace a new interpretation of it, much like Burrough's soldier.
The soldier, according to Burroughs, is asked to leave his comfortable home and to adjust to a new life without its comforts. "The very thought of the condition of a soldier is enough to still his disquiet of heart. When he is away he does not enjoy such comforts in his quarters as he has in his own home.........he sometimes has to lie on straw and he thinks to himself, 'I am a soldier and it is suitable to my condition.'"-Jeremiah Burroughs (Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment).
The soldier of Burrough's writing actually rejoices in his situation and sees his lack of comforts as only suitable for it. He has been called to his duty and he finds an odd (in my eyes) contentment in his position.
"So it should be with us in respect of this world. What an unseemly thing it would be to see a soldier go whining up and down with his finger in his eye, complaining that he does not have hot meat every meal and his bed warmed as he did at home."-Jeremiah Burroughs.
So today, as I soldier through my battle from a warm bed and among all the comforts of my home, I will be content. I will see this season as one to which I have been called and through which I will pass one way or another. I thank this young man, Jeremiah Burroughs, who was younger than several of my own children when he was called home, for speaking to this old soldier today.
Contentment...it truly is a rare jewel.

"I am a stranger in the earth, do not hide Your commandments from me."-Psalm 119:19.

"You therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."-2 Timothy 2:3.

On the health front:
Another Nasty Shot yesterday, early lab on Monday to check out the white blood cell situation, then whatever it takes to allow my chemo to take place on Thursday.
Please pray that I can keep the treatment schedule that has been established so we can finish on target.