Friday, August 31, 2007

Sunday Scribbling: The End

The Long View

Ever get a feeling when you first wake up in the morning, before you've begun to clearly think about the day ahead, do you ever feel that awareness that the world has shifted? The way you've gotten used to things being are no longer quite that same way.
Life is full of endings. The seasons turn. My two year old, though it seems that she has been in the getting-closer-to-being-potty-trained stage forever, has yet to reach that magic point. These days of being home alone with her seem to reach far back and quite a ways ahead through the coming years, but I know this reality is only temporary.
So it is with the rest of my life. When times are especially good or bad, it seems like life will always be this way. Yet nothing stays one way forever.
Life itself goes by so quickly though the moments seem to stand still.
"As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more" (Psalm 103:15-16). Not a very complementary picture, but accurate. Millions and millions of people have lived on this earth, and each one of them has perhaps felt as I do, that life feels like it will last forever. Yet all these people are gone, their moments are gone "and the place remembers them no more."
No wonder we are told to "number our days aright" (Ps 90:12), for life quickly passes. Why does this seem so difficult? Why do we always have that feeling of shock when we learn of the death of a loved one, even if the death was anticipated? I read once that the reason is because eternity was placed in our hearts. We were not meant to die; but on a certain day several thousand years ago in a place called the Garden of Eden, things got seriously bunged up. Death entered the world and infected all.
So now our days do end, whether we're ready for them to or not. But that comparison of us to grass--there is encouragement in that. "See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:28-30).
We are being watched over and provided for. The quickly flying days are filled with moments and each of them is a gift. Only let us not forget that they do not last forever.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the introduction. Engaging question that relate to every reader. Life has full of endings...and beginnings too. Beautifully written post.

Anonymous said...

This is so near to what I feel. Like the questions asked too.

Wonderfully reflective post!

Patois42 said...

Very thoughtful post, woven together so well.

Robin said...

It always strikes me how time can feel so heavy and yet at the same time so fleeting.

Steve Isham said...

I love how you moved from Psalms to Matthew to ring out that note of hope. We need to gaze at the full tragedy to cherish and appreciate hope of redemption.

Tumblewords: said...

Very nice post!