“So Quickly Vanished”

“So Quickly Vanished”

November 1, 2017

Today as I turned my wall calendar to November, I thought about how quickly October slipped by. As a child, I recall the joy of another birthday, another year of school completed, and those other wonderful events that come with age – like getting a driver’s license on birthday 16. The journey of a year felt long when a desired accomplishment was anticipated.

Part of the immaturity of youth is the tendency to anticipate the finish but not always enjoy the journey. Being a kid has so many benefits: Someone else provides for our needs, there is usually a lot of time to play, and protection is taken for granted as we sleep securely while someone else lies awake worrying about how to pay the bills.

Youth views life as though it will never end. To skip a few days or weeks to fulfill a desire more quickly seems like a good idea. Value of each day is easily lost. But as we grow older, the reality of running out of time can make us want to slow down the process. Actually, I could use another October to finish some of the things I thought might be completed by today. Like the writer of James 4:14, days feel like vapor – here and gone so quickly.

The days of October did not slip away more rapidly than the days of any other month – all the way back to when Creator God started the process of life on Planet Earth. Twenty-four hours for Adam was the same amount of time as a day in my life. But I wonder if time seemed to move more slowly in Adam’s days than in mine. He had fewer distractions than I do and not as many options for the use of his time.

The writer of Psalm 90 talks about the Creator’s eternity and human perspective. Verse 12 in one translation says: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” I believe this is God’s plan for today – for younger and older humans. As we follow this directive, we will come to the end of today with confidence that we accomplished what He intended. It is good to remember that leaving some things unfinished at the end of our life on Planet Earth is a good thing. Otherwise, we will feel our work is done and just sit and wait to die – not a good plan!

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

It Is Time

By wvbaptist | June 3, 2020 | 0 Comments

June 3, 2020 It was perhaps 18 years ago that a couple of people suggested I should write a weekly blog. I did not know what a “blog” was, but Ponder with Pastor Bill came out of that idea. It […]

Did Jesus Feel Confined?

By wvbaptist | May 20, 2020 | 0 Comments

May 20, 2020 It feels strange, almost wrong, for me to ask this question: How could the Creator and Controller of the universe be held in captivity by it? I hope I am not dabbling in something inappropriate, but this […]

Dark Cloud – Silver Lining

By wvbaptist | May 13, 2020 | 0 Comments

May 13, 2020 Creator God gives us a statement of beauty and hope when He puts a silver lining around a dark cloud in the sky. He reminds us that the darkness is temporary and there is something more powerful […]

Poder Increíble 

By wvbaptist | May 12, 2020 | 0 Comments

Meditación con el pastor Bill 6 de mayo de 2020 Sentado en mi silla de tratamiento esta semana frente a una ventana que me daba una vista para el Monte St. Helens, cubierto de nieve sobre un fondo azul cielo. […]

Amazing Power

By wvbaptist | May 6, 2020 | 0 Comments

May 6, 2020 My treatment chair this week faced a window that provided a frame for Mount St. Helens, covered with snow against a sky-blue background. It was a magnificent scene, and I had plenty of time to enjoy it […]

Scroll to Top