Teach Me to Count My Days

Watching a magnificent series on Masterpiece Theater entitled "Cranford," I am struck by the awareness of death, because of the nearness of death, among these English villagers in the mid-1800's. Pneumonia or fevers from unknown causes bring death to young and old alike. In each case there is, what I consider to be, an appropriate mourning for the loss of someone dearly loved while still recognizing that death comes to all of us sooner or later.

While watching this series, and after recently officiating at a memorial service for a friend's father, I appreciate again the apostle Paul's comments to the Christians living in Thessalonica. "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." Paul does not say Christians could not grieve or should not grieve or would not grieve. Rather, he tells them their grief will be different from those who have no hope. SInce we are assured that those who are part of God's family through Jesus Christ will never be separated from God, we know that truly they are "in a better place."

The second impact is the recognition, again, that my days are few. Whatever I want to do in the way of building or repairing relationships cannot be put off indefinitely. This also means that I must choose carefully those relationships into which I will significantly invest since it is humanly impossible to have deep relationships with everyone I know. In Cranford, it is clear that while the villagers are all a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses, they understand that they are connected and that some relationships will take the majority of time and energy. Much of the bitter-sweet ethos of the series is the way in which misunderstandings and life choices can impact relationships for decades.

Since time is short and relationships are central, it is important for me to periodically evaluate how I am spending my time and with whom I am building relationships. Only three things last forever: God, God's Word and the souls of people. That's where most of my time should be invested.