Reminder to Remember

Recently I heard this comment (quoted loosely);

The saddest life of all is giving our all 

to something that turns out in the end,

to be completely and utterly worthless/meaningless.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes

 ponders the meaning of life, finds great wealth 

and tastes every heart's desire

only to come to this awesome conclusion 

after realizing everything in this world is ultimately vanity...

Eccles.12:13-14

Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

The beauty of the earth is a glimpse-of-Heaven backdrop

to the brutality of the battle of wills

between man and God/God and man

(This reminder to remember was written to myself

and anyone else who can relate to the battle of want

between what is temporal and what is eternal)

...also a bit of a continuance along the lines of thought

that inspired yesterday's poem

 

Sometimes the guise of lesser prizes we are yearning for

Can blind us to the binding gait of those who’ve gone before

The price we are willing to pay, sometimes not worth the cost

For something that will fade away in death, forever lost

Sometimes we grapple with apples of want’s eye, and we miss

The treasure that transcends the pleasure of This transient kiss

For time's measure of moments melts like snowflakes in the sun

While warp and weft of seasons weaves and unravels as one

Sometimes the diamond in our dreams is not as it appears

The pinnacle doffed of its gleam as its procurement nears

The glamor of achievement and the clamor of applause

A trophy of bereavement on ashes of futile cause

God, help us to remember you behold and know our need

Help us note and surrender gloating gods of pride and greed

Help us guard against pitfalls decked in visual appeal

And help us not to put our trust in what we think and feel

God, open our heart’s eyes as we seek and search Your Word

So, stepping-stones and stumbling blocks are not confused and blurred

Remind us, not one jot or tittle is hidden from You

And all will give account when this little lifetime is through

God, keep our eyes upon a prize beyond all mortal ken

For the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, amen

Help us put on Your whole armor, with humble, sacred breath

Lest we stray to a way that seems right, but its end is death

© Janet Martin

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.