November 27, 2009
Psalms 103: 15 & 16
As for mortals,their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
The wind blows over it and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more. (TNIV)
The “it” of verse 16 is you and I as a miniscule part of the entire human race. The Psalmist probably missed the immensity of the human experience but he saw the effects of the blowing wind. Every day the winds changed the hills, the fields, the flowers and the deserts. From our scientific mindset, the wind is a change agent in the never ending process called erosion. Can there be any better word picture of our transitory existence? Human life is temporary, as individuals we are eroding daily, even hourly.
Ollie Hardy would blame Laurel for each desperate and awkward situation they encountered. He popularized the expression, “ it’s a fine kettle of fish you’ve gotten us into now (circa 1935)”. We, as humans, are so situated. The only exception is that we have no one else to blame for our temporary kettle of fish. This is the truth presented in the beginning parables. This truth cannot be argued for we are human beings. You and I, all of us, will reach some accommodation with this fact.
How shall we face the fact of death? Overwhelmingly the most popular tact is denial, death only happens to the other guy. This is a young peoples game but some of us never quit trying. We hide in the bushes to avoid the fact of death. Maximizing the many life options seems to relegate our temporary state to an avoidable consequence. Staying busy is one of these options. Working hard for a supposed future is another but sooner or later we begin to face the fact that our existence is temporary.
The mature tactic is to accept our brief humanness, it is what it is. The populist mantra to “live in the now” is good advice. Aware of our temporary state we can become thankful for the opportunity to experience and value each hour of the day. Today becomes measured. A foundation is established for positive growth both as an individual and a community. Our ethic becomes measured upon the good to be transferred to our children’s children. As positive as this may be, is more possible?
Into the deep recesses of time, in every culture, mankind has extended himself to reach for permanency. Most of these efforts have been minimal coping mechanisms with religious connotations. However, biblical history records a succession of individuals whose lives have trusted in the availability of permanency. Do we have the courage to so explore? Jesus challenged the loyalty of the twelve in John 6:68 to such a journey. Peter responded, “to whom shall we go?” Peter believed that by following Jesus, and only Jesus, permanency or eternal life could be his. This is the place that God has prepared for us.
Are these perfect people, are they spectacular people? No, they are just every day folks who have been given the courage to touch the permanent love of God by faith. Those who actually make the connection, reflect God’s permanent Love by having the strength to give their lives away without notoriety. Human selflessness is indeed a rare occurrence in this American culture. Sadly, the church to often reflects the self centeredness of the culture and not the words of Jesus.
In closing this writer would like to depart from past practice and quote a favorite Scripture that reflects the testimony of the unknown author of the letter to the Hebrews. This passage is relevant and undervalued. He is quoting Psalm 102.
Hebrews 1: 10 thru 12
And,
"Thou, Lord,in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of thy hands;
They will perish, but Thou remainest;
And they will become old as a garment,
And as a mantle Thou wilt roll them up;
As a garment they will also be changed.
But Thou art the same,
And Thy years will not come to an end.”
G. Goslaw
Victorville, Ca
