October 7
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ECCLESIASTES 12
5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
– Ecclesiastes 12:5-8
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ECCLESIASTES 12 SIGNS OF AGING & TOWARDS THE END
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
In our young age, we did a lot of discoveries
We were brave and took risks and made choices
It may have brought us to where we are now
But this world is not really where we ought to go
As we mature and grow old, we become more fearful
Once we were brave but our boldness has dwindled.
As we look at our faces, we see sagging and wrinkles
Our tresses once dark, are now grey or white as snow
Towards the end of life, we become weak and sleepless
It is hard to get rest as we easily awake many moments
Our eyes are not as sharp and are now dim and hazy
Even heights that used to excite us are now a challenge.
In the morning we wake up with aches here and there
Our activities are limited as our bodies deteriorate
Our friends start to die and funerals are on the go
We begin to think if our lives are truly meaningful
Did we really make a difference in this existence?
Did we truly live our lives in the likeness of God’s image?
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REFLECTION
• What does verse 7 remind us of this life that we live?