6 p.m…
For her “exercise”, Irene would walk the hallway of the Oncology Ward of 11 Long at UCSF. There is a framed quote on the wall that says:
“Cancer might rob you of that blissful ignorance that once led you to believe that tomorrow stretched forever…….In exchange you are granted vision to see each today as precious, a gift to be used wisely and richly.”
“Tomorrow does not stretch on forever…” It doesn’t matter whether one has cancer or not. This is a very sobering reminder of REALITY.
Scripture drives home images to remind us that our stay on this planet is briefer than most of are inclined to think.
“All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.”
Is 40:6b-8
Flowers will fade …. His word endures forever. Isaiah 40:8
© 2006 Hosanna Loh
James adds this additional perspective:
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
James 4:14
This perspective is not “negative” but very positive, helpful and hopeful…!! It is so because it communicates that there is more to life than what we presently see and experience. There’s an assurance that our longing for more than this world has to offer is not merely a distant dream.
Ken Boa puts it this way in his book, Conformed to His Image:
“…it usually requires the struggle of the midlife crisis (or midlife process, depending on the way we go through it) before we experientially grasp our mortality. As we discover the decline of our capacities and the increase of our responsibilities, we realize with clarity and force that we will not be able to fulfill many of our earthly hopes and dreams. This can be traumatic for those whose expectations are limited to this planet, but for believers whose hope is in the character and promises of God, it can be a powerful reminder to
