10 We can
expect seventy years,
or maybe eighty,
if
we are healthy,
but even our best years
bring
trouble and sorrow.
Suddenly our time is up,
and
we disappear
James gives a Christian commentary on that verse: “My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when
all kinds of trials come your way, or you know that when your faith succeeds in
facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure.”[2]
Today is my 81st birthday. I have now surpassed
the four-score point. I must confess
that as I look back over 81 years, I have had my trouble and sorrow. On the other hand, I have enjoyed life even in
the darkest times. In the past year my
prostate cancer has returned but not with a vengeance yet. I suffered a stroke, and this prompted my
oncologist to say, “Now you are no longer fighting cancer, you are fighting to
stay alive. So, stop taking…” and he listed most of my cancer medications.
We had a car accident where a semi pushed us sideways down a
freeway ramp at ever increasing speeds. When I took the car in to the body shop
a few days later, I was told that my insurance would probably total my car
because of the damages—even though I was able to drive it home from the accident.
My wife and daughter were in the car, yet none of the three of us suffered any
injuries. God has been very good!
Sylvia stated, “Our guardian angels were really looking
after us!” To which some wag quipped, “If they were looking after you, why didn’t
they prevent you from having an accident?”
We took a lovely trip back east this past summer. We escaped
some of the relentless 100º
(40ºC) weather and attended Sylvia’s family reunion in North Carolina. At each
family reunion we noticed that some of our beloved family members have cashed
in on “suddenly our time is up and we disappear.”
However,
we are laying concrete plans for a trip to Africa this year and a trip to see a
total solar eclipse next year. In the meantime, we may suddenly disappear.
At this point I can only say,
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