I live a beautiful forested location in Spokane Washington. I am a early riser. Many mornings I am up before the sun. This last year I have come to realize a greater importance of each new day. It is a special moment when the morning sun rises to meet the horizon and the sweet rays of light filter through the Ponderosa Pines. When I see this I try to stop for a moment and thank God for the sweet morning light.
Just three months ago I lost a dear friend and older brother to cancer. Two years before that, my wife lost her sister to cancer. Life is short. We have all heard it, but many, including myself, don't act like this reality could be ours. This summer as I sat in the Boise airport visiting my brother, I asked God to show me why Jim was sick? I asked Him to teach me --- what lesson should I be learning from this. As I often do, I opened my Bible to find a bit of inspiration. On this day I turned to Psalm 39 and found this:
"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
Now when I see the morning light, I often think that privilege is no longer available for my brother Jim. My hope is that with each morning light I be thankful for it and make the most of it.
