One More Chance

These are the words of the Teacher, King David's son, who ruled in Jerusalem. "Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" What do people get for all their hard work? Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn't already exist long ago? We don't remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. (Ecclesiastes 1: 1–18 NLV).

Ecclesiastes is one of the most interesting books of the Bible. It was written by Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live. As you can tell from reading the first few verses this morning, it begins very pessimistically. As you continue in the book, along with the writer, you realize that without a heavenly perspective in life, everything is meaningless. He comes to the conclusion that life is wonderful for those who live it “above the sun.” It is his way of saying that living selfishly can never bring satisfaction or blessing. Just after she was told she had incurable cancer, Erma Bombeck wrote a wonderful little piece titled, “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” In her usual style, laced with humor and full of wisdom, there are some practical gems to be found in it. “If I had my life to live over…”:

 I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
 I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
 I would have talked less and listened more.
 I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.
 I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
 I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
 I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
 I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
 I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
 I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
 Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
 When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
 There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."
 But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it , live it and never give it back.

Isn’t it nice that God has given us all one more chance today? Really, every new dawn is another chance at life when we begin it “above the sun.” Life is so much more than weary and tiresome living! Today, practice the discipline of carpe diem – SEIZE THE MOMENT!