One More Chance

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 ESV). 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:  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!