We forget. With our lives constantly assaulted by the tyranny of the urgent, we simply forget.
Life is precious. The day to day, uneventful, busywork of life gets in the way and blinds us to the fact that life is a gift. With errands to run, too much work at work, messes to clean up, and pressing deadlines stressing us out, somehow not every minute of life always feels like a gift.
Then something happens to remind us. This morning, as I was getting ready to do my daily devotions with the Lord, a headline from the morning news reminded me. Last night, in a town much like mine, a bunch of teenagers much like mine went to the premiere of a movie…much like mine have done. And in the middle of the movie, a mass shooting broke out. So many lives were lost, so many changed forever…all in the blink of an eye.
Yet I think the thing that has left me gasping more than all this, is the story of Jessica Redfield. On June 5th, Jessica blogged about her near-miss experience in the Toronto mall. She was there on vacation, went in to the food court…but a strange feeling led her to seek fresh air outdoors, just as a gunman started shooting right where she had been. This experience deeply affected her – how could it not? Her life was spared. But, last night, Jessica was in Aurora, Co. She went to the movie premiere. And, her life was not spared. She is among the fatalities.
Jessica deserves, I am sure, to be remembered for many things. I didn’t know her, but her writing indicates she was a fun-loving, sweet, smart woman. Her family and friends are aching now for the loss, and we should mourn with them for a life cut short. But when I hear her name, for the rest of my life, I will think of Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” We do need to number our days – to take seriously the fact that this life is not all there is, that we each have an eternity stretching out in front of us.
Ephesians 5:15-16 also came immediately to my mind this morning, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Amen. Amen.
If you have a moment, read Jessica’s thoughts on that night in Toronto. And let her words resonate in your heart, “Every second of every day is a gift.” Pray for her family, and the family and friends of all the victims today. And as we number our days, let’s seek God’s face as to how to walk wisely, “making the best use of the time,” because life is indeed a precious gift.
Blessings as you seek His face,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity: A Year of Timeless Devotions
Life is precious. The day to day, uneventful, busywork of life gets in the way and blinds us to the fact that life is a gift. With errands to run, too much work at work, messes to clean up, and pressing deadlines stressing us out, somehow not every minute of life always feels like a gift.
Then something happens to remind us. This morning, as I was getting ready to do my daily devotions with the Lord, a headline from the morning news reminded me. Last night, in a town much like mine, a bunch of teenagers much like mine went to the premiere of a movie…much like mine have done. And in the middle of the movie, a mass shooting broke out. So many lives were lost, so many changed forever…all in the blink of an eye.
Yet I think the thing that has left me gasping more than all this, is the story of Jessica Redfield. On June 5th, Jessica blogged about her near-miss experience in the Toronto mall. She was there on vacation, went in to the food court…but a strange feeling led her to seek fresh air outdoors, just as a gunman started shooting right where she had been. This experience deeply affected her – how could it not? Her life was spared. But, last night, Jessica was in Aurora, Co. She went to the movie premiere. And, her life was not spared. She is among the fatalities.
Jessica deserves, I am sure, to be remembered for many things. I didn’t know her, but her writing indicates she was a fun-loving, sweet, smart woman. Her family and friends are aching now for the loss, and we should mourn with them for a life cut short. But when I hear her name, for the rest of my life, I will think of Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” We do need to number our days – to take seriously the fact that this life is not all there is, that we each have an eternity stretching out in front of us.
Ephesians 5:15-16 also came immediately to my mind this morning, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Amen. Amen.
If you have a moment, read Jessica’s thoughts on that night in Toronto. And let her words resonate in your heart, “Every second of every day is a gift.” Pray for her family, and the family and friends of all the victims today. And as we number our days, let’s seek God’s face as to how to walk wisely, “making the best use of the time,” because life is indeed a precious gift.
Blessings as you seek His face,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity: A Year of Timeless Devotions
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