A Takeaway Curry (from Cooks)

I "Cooked" a curry last night. Which is to say we went to Cooks and bought two of their special offer Curry takeaways.  They are offering a main mean for two, plus a rice dish for two, plus a side dish, for a tenner. So we got chicken, beef, dahl, a cauliflower dish and two different rices.  Jackie and Linda joined us.  It was nice. We all had second helpings. I didn't think I would have the energy to cook, given my day out on Saturday and the Sunday meeting. We actually over-ran on Sunday by 20 minutes, which is most unusual for us. Everything usually goes exactly to time.  But it was the last C.O. talk, and he showed all the rest of the children's artwork. Fortunately my chauffeur, the gallant Captain Butterfly, was late too (got caught up in his wildlife filming) so he was spared lots of anxious clucking by mobile phone from Mrs.Captain wondering where he was.

It reminded me how many children we have in the congregation - so many families.  And there is a whole group who were little girls when I was first attending, on our repats, who are now pretty young teenagers.

A generation is coming, and a generation is going.

The Circuit Overseer mentioned both old and young in his talk.  And he gave us old crocks this comforting reminder from the Book of Daniel.  When Cyrus let the Jews return to their homeland, Daniel was too old and frail to go with them, and he had to stay in Babylon.

At that point, Jehovah sent an angel to him with this lovely comforting message:   “O Daniel, you very precious man, give attention to the words that I am about to speak to you. Now stand up in your place, for I have been sent to you.” - Daniel 10:11

He reassures Daniel. His years of faithful service have made him very precious to Jehovah.  The angel then gives Daniel that amazing prophecy about the struggle between the King of the North and the King of the South, taking us right through both world wars.  And that prophesy assures us that, even though the world will remain divided until this system of things is brought to its end, there will not be a third world war. The two kings will not go head to head again.

We can see why now too, as, given the state of modern weaponry, WW3 would ruin the earth.

Then Daniel finishes this way, when the angel says to Daniel:   “But as for you, go on to the end. You will rest, but you will stand up for your lot at the end of the days.” - Daniel 12:13

Daniel sleeps in death to this day - knowing nothing of the years going by over his head - but he remains in Jehovah's memory, treasured by his Creator for his years of faithful service.  And so he will wake from the sleep of death, and stand up for his "lot", his allocation in the restored earthly Paradise, when the current system of things has ended. He will wake up during the Millennial Reign.

He will certainly be there.  Jehovah, the Great Purposer, has said so.  But will I?  Will I get to meet and talk to Daniel?  Its something to hope for.