6 Before the silver cord is snapped, and the gold bowl is broken, and the jar is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken into the well; 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
One day my life will end. I can write that without letting it sink in. I have something to do tomorrow or a conversation I expect to have later, so most days the thought of my own death stays in the background.
Then I read the Teacher describing a silver cord snapping and a golden bowl breaking. These aren't abstract ideas; they mean total finality. The dust returns to the earth, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. I believe those words are true. I'm just less sure I've ever really allowed them to be about me.
I don't think the answer is dwelling on death every minute. But these words make me wonder what I'm postponing, especially with God.
I assume there will always be more time. More time to pray and know Him. I don't mean to put those things off, but I can go through another day assuming I'll get around to them later. It's easy to live as though I have an infinite number of tomorrows when I don't know how many days I have left.
I want to know Him right now, in this life, on ordinary days when there are still things on the calendar. He is here, and I don't want to live as though knowing Him can wait.
Father, I spend too much time acting like I have infinite tomorrows. Help me receive the days You've given me, and teach me to seek You right in the middle of the life I'm living today without waiting for everything else to settle down.
