Fragile

The news of three deaths came to me this week. A great friend and colleague of a friend died of a heart attack at 66. My best friend’s former student died at the tender age of 12. A long-time friend posted yesterday that her beloved 94-year-old father went home to be with the Lord.

I also have at least a dozen people on my daily prayer list who are suffering from pain, disease, and emotional distress. Several of them may soon be taken from us.

There are people in my home community and also my work community who are still recovering from recent disasters.

There are many people within my circle of friends who are in damaging relationships that are causing them distress and grief.

What makes us think we can take advantage of other people?

What makes us think we can take our friends and family members for granted?

What makes us think we will always have what we have?

What makes us think we will have another chance tomorrow to make amends or do the right thing?

What makes us think we can live in this world without the help of God?

We are such fragile creatures after all.

Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Perhaps the answer lies in those last few words. We often seek God’s guidance in times of disaster, but when the trouble has passed we return to our wicked ways.

Better to seek guidance each day, regardless of our circumstances.

Better to treat those around us with love and respect.

Better to live each day as though it were the last one you might be blessed to enjoy.

Comments

[Megan]

I've been thinking about this lately myself. For several years I prayed consistently, pleading with the Lord for help. Now that things are much improved in many different areas of my life, I'm not as good about praying. I try to think of what it'd be like if my offspring only talked to me when they wanted something and it motivates me to pray.

We had a conference a few weeks ago where a speaker pointed out that each of us is a child of God. It gave me pause to consider my relationship with one of my children. He is a child of God as much as I am. And I need to treat him with more respect and love. Every day could be our last together . . .