Lazarus Day
Wouldn't you like to live forever?
"For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant. But mortals die, and are laid low; humans expire, and where are they? As waters fail from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up, so mortals lie down and do not rise again; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake or be roused out of their sleep." - Job 14:7-12
In today's reading from the Book of Job, we hear a lament. Job compares the fate of man to a tree and reminds us that God has made us to live but once.
A tree may be cut down and still rise up from its roots, but for us, that is not possible. We cannot recover from death, at least not the way a tree does.
We go through life not wanting to be reminded of that. Our days are filled with hope and anticipation of the hours, days, weeks and months ahead. We plan, we dream, we live in expectation of tomorrow.
But there will be a day when our mortality catches us up cold and we remember that life is finite. We will dread that day when it comes, and yet it provides us with a chance to make each day better.
I am reminded of the stories of Lazarus and Tabitha. Both died and were raised up, able to live again. How lucky they were to know death and still have life, so that they could make the most of the days ahead.
But why not us?
We could face the fact that one day all this will end, and in that moment we can decide to make the most of each day we have.
Why not make today our Lazarus Day?
Before we burden ourselves with the worries of the day, let us take pause and give thanks. This may be all we have, so let's make the most of it.
When we look at our lives and see the possibility of an end date, we become sad, when we should be glad we are still here. So, today I will make the most of each moment, and all my worries will fall away, because I know this is all I have been given and if it continues one more day, I will bless that one as well.
Let's make today the best day of our lives.
More to come...