You might think that it frightens me to consider the extreme brevity of my life, or, as I once heard a guest speaker at my church refer to it, “that little puff of breath you add to the world”. It did, at one time. Every once in a while, it still does. After all, I’m likely more than a quarter of the way through it already.
It's no wonder some people spend their whole lives running away from old age. What do they have to look forward to in death?
On the other hand, there are some people who want to know now how everything will play out later. I see no need to rush. As C.S. Lewis writes, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”
I personally am at peace with the changing seasons, the changing years.
I can almost hear the mental “You say that now!” from my older audience as I type. And perhaps they’re right. But I’m curious to see how my story unfolds, to see where (and to whom) God will lead me. I’m thankful for every breath he’s given me. If a year’s wages suddenly fell into your lap (or a year worth of college, to the broke students in the group) which of you would complain that it wasn’t two years worth? Anyone? Now, how much more valuable is a single minute of your life? Rejoice, you’re alive today!
Each day is a gift from God—a Christmas present, in fact. Some will be better than others. You’ll have surprises, and letdowns, and moments when you jealously compare with the person beside you. You can stop looking forward to the holidays and assume you’re just getting sweaters. You can be impatient, and try to open all your presents at once “just to know what they are”. Or, you can find a little bright spot in each one, and recognize the love and joy packed into each box… no matter how creative its other contents are.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment