CORNY THE ACORN

Meet Corny.

The Acorn of Safe Travels and Good Times.

Let me tell you about him.

As most of you know, once a month I venture *off the mountain* to visit my family.

And a couple of months ago, before one of these trips, as I was walking out the front door and heading to the car, I decided to take a little bit of *home* along with me.

Years ago, one of my grandmothers told me that when you leave a place, and accidentally leave something behind, it just meant that you'd come back.

I think about that when I realize that I've left a pair of shoes, or a jacket, or a book, or something behind at my mom's after visiting her.

It just means that I'll be coming back…

(Which is much nicer than admitting to yet another "senior moment"!!)


So, I figured if leaving something behind has meaning, then taking something with you could have meaning, too!

That's why I decided to take a piece of my home with me, to always remind me of where my heart lies.

So on this particular day I was looking for something to take along with me.

And there was Corny lying on the ground.

He had a perfect little black hole in his shell, which I thought looked like the perfect little nose.  I added a couple of eyes and a cute little smile, and voila – Corny was born!


Now there's also another reason I thought about doing this.

Years ago, after graduating from college, my son and his roommate decided to take a huge road trip.  Their plan?  To visit all 48 contiguous states in one month!  (Just skipping Hawaii and Alaska!)

Can you even imagine this mother's concern?!

Well, they did it!

After driving over 14,000 miles, and accomplishing their goal of visiting all 48 states, they finally arrived home…in one piece.  (Thank You, Lord!!!)

Now it just so happened that in the first few days of the trip they got donuts.

And one donut that didn't get eaten ended up on top of the dashboard, snuggled up against the inside of the windshield.

The boys nicknamed it "The Traveling Donut of Freedom!"

Well, after all those miles, that donut ended up becoming hard as a rock.

Mummified.

And what did my son do about that? 

Throw it away?  

Oh no…

He bought a plastic display case made for hockey pucks, inserted the donut, got an engraved plaque made for it, and proudly points to his memento of an iconic and memorable road trip!

Truth be told, I kinda thought it was a great idea!

Let me tell you, that road trip was 12 years ago, and the Traveling Donut of Freedom is still in there, in the same shape, as it's always been – still serving as a great reminder of a great time!

(People joke about Twinkies being so durable they can survive a nuclear blast.  I don't know about that, but I think the TD of F could give them a run for their money!!)

Now Corny isn't mummified, and he probably won't be traveling 14,000 miles in one month – but he is up for being my companion as I journey back-and-forth, up-and-down the mountain.


And he reminds me of some important things.


First of all, he reminds me to pray.

For safe travels.

Yes, that's what I pray about.

That God will get me to my destination safely, in one piece.

Some people think that God assigns one guardian angel to every believer.

I don't know if He does or not.

But we do have certain promises in God's Word.


We are promised that nothing happens outside of God’s control.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)


And yes, if we know Christ, we are told that His angels continually watch over us.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11, ESV)


The Bible also teaches that the angels work for our good.

"Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14, ESV)


And though I do not pray to the angels, I do indeed pray to the God of Heaven's Armies.

I pray for concentration on the road, for good judgment and quick reflexes if needed.  I pray for my aged car to rumble down the road without problems.  I pray for the other drivers surrounding me.

I pray for Him to protect me.

What ultimately happens is His will, but I still pray!


Second, Corny reminds me to pray for my family.

To pray about what's happening in their lives.  To pray for their struggles and challenges.  To pray for their relationships, their work, their health, and for their faith.

I pray for God to bless them, and keep them, and guide them.  

And I pray that I will bring happiness, not turmoil, to their lives when I come down to visit.

I pray for good times.

"…If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst…" (Exodus 34:9, NASB)


Finally, Corny reminds me of home.

Of the joys of returning to a place of comfort and security.  

And that reminds me of my true home, of where my heart is…

And to the remembrance that in many ways, this life is but my journey to that everlasting destination. 

I don't ever want to forget that.

All the problems of this world, and the troubling circumstances in my life – the sufferings and hardships, the losses and sorrows – all of this is only temporary.

Fleeting, transitory, momentary, short-lived.

A shadow that will surely fade in the glory of eternity!

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 
(2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT) 


So, friends, there you have it.

Corny, the Acorn of Safe Travels and Good Times.

My little traveling buddy.

A cute (and corny???) reminder...


To pray for safety when I am traveling.

To pray for family, and to look forward to the joys of spending time with them.

To always be grateful for my eternal home.


On the road again…



Who or what is your traveling companion – and what do you pray for?

Then you will go on your way
in safety...
For the Lord will be
at your side.

"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7, AMPC)

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

"For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him." (Psalm 34:11, NLT)
"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me." 
(Psalm 139:5, ESV)

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, NASB)


"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  
So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:3-7, NLT)


"'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.'" (John 10:28, ESV)

"'And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.'" (John 6:39, NLT)

"The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (Psalm 121:8, NLT)



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