Numbered Days
How happy are you?
So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Return, O LORD; how long will you tarry? be gracious to your servants. Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. - Psalm 90:12-14
In today's readings we have this request of God from the Psalms. Teach us to number our days.
I was surprised to discover this quote from Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor who ruled from 161 to 180 AD.
“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.”
He practiced Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy devoted to logic and reason. He published his views on life and wisdom in a book entitled Meditations.
From him we get other words of wisdom that could help us today, like this:
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact; everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."
And this: "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
His message sits well with the message in the Psalm, showing us that there is a place for wisdom and reason in our lives, and our faith.
So, what is the message for us each day?
It seems to me that I should begin each day reflecting on the blessings of life, to acknowledge the life I have and how short it is, to be thankful for today.
If I see how precious life is, I will do my best to make the most of this day and every day.
I might as well start today.
More to come...