While the wind chill factor was registering close to -40 C, nothing seemed to limit the enthusiastic spirits of the crowd that had gathered. From all directions, people were finding their way along the sidewalks; school children, business professionals, truck drivers, construction workers, young moms with babies in their arms and seniors cautiously leaning into their canes on the icy pavement. Everyone wanted to be sure to get the best view!

There we all stood, neighbors from all walks of life, under a clear blue Manitoba sky, with the cold whipping at our faces, waiting for passing of the Olympic torch relay. After what seemed like an eternity of anticipating, finally the flame appeared in our sight line. Surprisingly, it was a rather small entourage that inched its way toward us, accompanied by at least half of our local police department (at least it seemed that way!). But no one was complaining and no one was disappointed. Those in the lead vehicles went through blasting their music, handing out flags and booming their thanks to the city of Winnipeg for their support of the 2010 Olympic Games. As the official torch finally passed by us, the cheers went up from the crowd. If you've experienced this in your community, you know the energy and inspiration of the moment!

As I stood taking this in, I wondered what we would have missed had there not been an Olympic Torch Relay across our country. As the cheers continued from the crowd, the answer seemed obvious. We would have missed the anticipation of that which is to come. All of us standing on the sidewalk that morning knew this Olympic torch had a destination far beyond our streets. While this moment was impressive, a greater event was yet to come! The flame was heading to Vancouver Place for the 2010 Winter Games. In just a few short weeks, this would be the flame igniting the celebration of the next Olympic event. While this moment in my fair city had been exciting, it didn't compare, even for moment, of the something else that was to come for this Olympic flame!

In many respects, I'm thinking there are parallels to our Christian journey in this. For isn't it true, sometimes our experience of life makes it really hard to see “the something else coming!” For some of us, life is only about the struggle of the preliminary relay and we fail to anticipate the promise of the greater games to come. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “Now I see but a poor reflection as in a mirror…” Maybe we come by this perspective honestly.

Life seems to be quite calculated in its ability to throw us curve balls. Maybe it's the unanticipated passing of a loved one, the unexpected findings of a doctor's report, the dissolve of trusted relationships, the loss of job, income and security. It's those days we face trying to figure out how we make life work and the emptiness that this brings. In these spaces, we can become so overwhelmed by the problems of the moment that we fail to look ahead and see the promise of what is coming. We only attend the relay when God is calling us toward to the ultimate celebration of the Kingdom!

John's vision in Revelation 5:12 brings clarity to this perspective, and for this, we are inspired toward thanks. For there is coming a day when “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them will sing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!'” And everyone who comes to this moment will know an experience of worship that will overshadow anything we have known before. It will be that moment of seeing the One who sits on the throne and experiencing the hope of our faith “face to face.”

It makes me so thankful that this Christian life isn't just about a relay. But in the larger perspective of the kingdom, there is something greater toward which we are all being called. If the January blues are getting you down, take some advice. Push the fast forward button. Look ahead to what is coming! We know how this story called life is going to end. Live in the certainty of the “something more” that God has for each of us who walk by faith and claim the gift of eternal light found only in Jesus Christ.

Major Julie Slous is corps officer at Winnipeg's Heritage Park Temple. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the College for Officer Training. In May 2009, Julie completed her doctoral studies in biblical preaching. Her thesis work centred on “Preaching a Disturbing Gospel─The Homiletic of The Salvation Army for Postmodern Times.” When not studying and writing, personal hobbies include reading, cooking, musical composition and, of course, listening to sermons! Married to Brian, she has three children.