March 21, 2009

The sunset of our lives

Imagine your most perfect of perfect days. Everything that you did seemed wonderful and every moment was treasure. At the end of that day you saw the most spectacular sunset ever and now that wonderful event was deepening to a beautiful purple sky. And the stars were just beginning to appear, and what stars they were. You sit on your porch and relax with your loved and discuss what you did that day; your work. To be able to see this and enjoy these times are a blessing almost beyond description. But, what if you couldn't see... or worse, what if you never could see. This was the situation of the blind man, until he met Jesus at least. John puts it this way....

Joh 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Joh 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." ESV



Today I didn't feel 100%. An old illness has come back to haunt me and this time I think it will stay and although I didn't say anything to anyone (until now) it still bothered me and took the edge off my day. Then I thought of a family I see ever so often. They are a ragged group, very average, with one of the daughters mildly (or maybe not so mildly) retarded. When I saw them, I greeted them warmly and realized how glad I was to see them. Then, it hit me: You can only do what you can do, Rose, so be happy, and rejoice in this day.... regardless. The passage from John and the picture are one thought because while we are here we need to share every bit of the love within us with others. As the sunset of our lives transforms into the beauty of the stars the time for work will be over. Don't waste a minute, seek the light of the world while you can and rejoice in the fact that you still can work. Jesus did!