In Light of Eternity

 

Young people often have a different view of time than those of us who are older.  Life’s ups and down usually serve to teach us that time is fleeting and is not always on our side like we thought it was when we were younger.  Over this past weekend, I was hit with that reality as I attended a memorial service for a dear friend who was younger than me.  His wife is a widow in her early fifties.  Suddenly, the future seems less certain; and how I spend each day seems to matter even more.

Casey was a simple man who lived a simple life.  He wasn’t rich or famous, and he didn’t care about being either.  He was a humble, gentle, and kind soul who would have given you the shirt off his back – even if he didn’t have another one for himself.  My husband and I were blessed to know him and his wife for nearly 35 years.  During those years, there were many times that we were on the receiving end of his generous heart.  He loved his family and others well.  His passing was unexpected and sudden.  A testament to his character was seen on Saturday when nearly 350 people came together to pay their respects.

Sunday was an annual Hallmark holiday set aside to honor our mothers.  For many, this is a joyous day; but not everyone is able to rejoice.  I personally know at least four people whose experience was one of remembrance instead of celebration – as they spent their first Mother’s Day without a mother.  Others have longed to become mothers and have been unable to.  Some are walking with their mothers through the darkness of Alzheimer’s or other diseases that have stolen the relationship they used to have together.  Others are estranged from their mothers or never experienced a true mother’s love.  Still others spent the day waiting for some kind of contact (that never came) from their own children - or have experienced the loss of a child.  And I know of one man for whom Mother’s Day is an anniversary of his now deceased wife’s diagnosis of terminal illness.

What do these things have in common?  All of them point us to the brevity of life and the futility of anything that isn’t eternal.  That doesn’t mean we aren’t meant to enjoy life on this earth; God has given us a beautiful world and people to love (James 1:17).  He wants us to spend our time here loving him and loving others.  But he has made it clear in his Word that the present is not the point; it is intended to be preparation for the future – for eternity. 

It’s okay to celebrate human relationships and enjoy human friendships, and it’s okay to mourn when those relationships end on earth.  Even Jesus cried when he lost a close friend (John 11:35), and he knew he was about to raise him from the dead!  What Jesus understood is that our lives on earth are but a breath (Psalm 39:4-5) and only meaningful in light of eternity (2 Peter 3:8-13).  While our days are numbered by God, we are not privy to that timeline ourselves.  We simply can’t see what lies ahead for us in this life or how much longer our time here will be.  But, as Christians, we do know what the future holds – eternity in the presence of God!  

Regardless of what we accomplish on earth, the only things that matter are what we accomplish for eternity.  We are called by God to be engaged in kingdom work as long as we are here on earth.  May our experiences of the briefness and difficulty of life spur us on to more selfless and eternally meaningful pursuits during the time we have left here before the reality of eternity becomes ours!

Lost Traditions

The first day of May has sure changed a lot since I was a kid.  My elementary school had a traditional May Day celebration, and I remember learning the art of winding the Maypole in P.E. class, making May Day baskets for art class, and choosing a May Day king and queen each year from the 7^th graders.  Yes, times were simpler “way back when”, and things like working together to accomplish goals and learning how to give to others were taught through fun activities like maypole winding and basket making.

 

Today, all across our nation, there will be thousands of people marching in protests, defying police and other authorities, and seeking to cause mayhem wherever they are – all in the name of May Day.  It is difficult to understand or explain the shift from my childhood until now, whether you’ve lived through it like I have or whether you are newer on the scene.  While for many it seems like a good thing to join in on, for most of us it seems senseless and destructive for no logical reason.

I know there are also some peaceful protests taking place today that may be for good causes.  But as I was thinking about the sermon I heard in church yesterday, I couldn’t help but see the connection and application to May Day activities.  My pastor spoke on Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As Christians, it is important that we act differently than the spirit of the age that is all around us – not isolated, but distinguished in ways that bring salt and light into a lost world.  Only when we allow God and his Word to work in our hearts and change the way we think are we in a position to truly be salt and light.  Then we can know and follow God’s will, standing up for things that really matter and loving others instead of spreading hate.  The church hasn’t always gotten this right through the years, but each one of us can be a part of getting it right in our generation. 

Instead of joining in on useless activities like May Day violence, I plan to spend this day celebrating the beauty of spring and the joy of serving a God who loves us and chooses to reveal himself and his will to us – asking him to show me new ways to be his salt and light in the world.   

                                         Have a happy May Day!