It’s 6:15a. I’m in my office and my tongue is ready; I’m already thinking about my lunch today at Swanky’s Taco Shop, where I’ll meet up with a friend. I’m pretty excited, because I’ve tasted it before, and the flavor can enchant my senses a month later…as can other foods.
At home, I think Christie and I do a good job of remembering that our children are not ours. They are God’s. We have them for a very limited time and that these 18 years with each of them are fleeing. It really hits home when we will take down the crib today or tomorrow. My Dad made it; we love it. After 5 kids, it’s in beautiful condition, and and we’re not expecting to see it again until we set it up for our first grandson in 15-20 years [Karsten would be breaking a 7 generation (at least) streak if he has a girl first].
When I’m in school vision mode, I usually have enough gumption to mention how we are building this school not just for our kids but for our kid’s kids. People like the idea usually, but don’t know what I mean. I need to do a better job teaching them.
I love the story of New College Oxford’s oaken beams. The founders had a long-term (500 year plan) that I hope was on purpose. The stories are sketchy and inconsistent though.
Now Jeff Bezos (founder and CEO of Amazon.com) is part of a big project…a really big project. It’s a 10,000 year clock. Here’s a one-page website that shows the work being done: 10,000 Year Clock.
The clock should make us remember to stop wasting our life today dabbling in fleeting joys and inanity. Invest in eternal things: like schools, like kids, like missionaries, like big ideas. Yes, by all means play your video games, watch your baseball and hone your corn hole skills, as part of living today. But God and people live forever. Invest in them.
Apologia – At the same time, let’s be clear: you are not wasting your life if you don’t have a 500 year plan or aren’t involved in a 10,000 year project. But you must be remembering what things really last. Ecclesiastes gives us very simple instructions (set in a bigger context) for enjoying life: “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Solomon says that these simple things are God’s gift to us. That which your hand is doing is what is best for today. Do it heartily as unto the Lord.
I just quoted the Ecclesiastes scripture the other day. It has often been “a boon” (to quote you) to my heart, mind, and soul. Yet, to remain only in this state does great injustice to the fact that God does have a “bigger” picture for us. Searching its mystery, and significance is also ours and I suppose taking time to “eat our bread” and “drink our wine” is for the strengthen and resting of the body so that we may persevere in our search for things that live on the other side of lunch time. Thanks for the moment to meditate on such things.
What Presbyterians have right (among other things) is seeing the activities of each day as worship in themselves.
Enjoying a meal (or preparing it) is a glory unto itself. Besides nourishment, it’s an opportunity for thanksgiving, for growth, for humility, for wonder at the transformation that took place from field to plate.
Tomatilla enchiladas are a wonder in themselves, but eating them to glory of God is a mystery that must be pursued. I think Ecclesiastes teaches us to stop considering food as utility/means and start considering food as a part of our worship. Anything served in a Shoney’s is an exception to this rule.
I’m working on this still. You think this is the right track?
God love the Presbyterians! (I would be one if they would just make that ONE adjustment back toward the Scripture way) At any rate, I am desirous of stealing their thunder in this area. I posted this a while ago https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=702291130#!/notes/adam-jones/whatever-you-eat-or-drink/10150273746286151 and I know I got a few “huhs” on this, but I can’t help it. It seems to me this HAS to be the way of life when the Word is your world (one of the reasons I am endeared to ‘Ratatouille” so). I must concur. It seems that the preacher’s searching ended with a most glorious conclusion, and the conclusion was concerned with our “days”, specifically, seeing God in them. God is in our days. I wake up I and I see God’s strength in my resting, I eat and I see God’s provision, I work and I see God and his glory as my end. I lay down to sleep and I remember God’s gift of His Son as my true Rest. Every day is the Lord’s day and when my day allows me to sit before a big enchilada, I pick up where I left off and pursue the mystery of that delicious cheese sauce. I will ride this track with you.