Aging with Grace
Sometimes biblical poetry is beautiful artwork, like Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:14
Young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. [..] You aren’t going to be young very long. [...] Then your arms, that have protected you, will tremble, and your legs, now strong, will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to chew your food, and your eyes too dim to see clearly. Your ears will be deaf to the noise of the street. You will barely be able to hear the mill as it grinds or music as it plays, but even the song of a bird will wake you from sleep. You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will be gone. We are going to our final resting place, and then there will be mourning in the streets.
Or in the immortal words of The Beastie Boys:
Gray Hair
I used to always say that once gray dominates my hair I wanted to get Jean-Luc Picard’s haircut. After today’s reading Proverbs 16 I am not so sure anymore:
“… gray hair is a glorious crown.”
Silence is golden
Smart people keep quiet about what they know, but stupid people advertise their ignorance. (Proverbs 12)
Shut up more often
The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet. (Proverbs 10)
Wisdom from Reverence
Paul knew his Proverbs: “To be wise you must first have reverence for the LORD. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.”
Guest Preacher: Whole and Holy
Listen to a sermon by the Reverend Mirjam Haas-Melchior focusing on body, mind and soul. It was delivered at Provo Community United Church of Christ on September 25th 2011.
Spiritual Maturity
The Proverbs are a disturbingly wonderful, random collection of sayings. Reading Proverbs 8 you embark on a mission towards maturity:
“Are you immature? Learn to be mature.”
Happy are those who are humble
Jesus famously says: “Happy are those who are humble…”.
Where does such an insight come from?
Jesus new the Hymnal of Judaism, including Psalm 37:
“but the humble will possess the land and enjoy prosperity and peace.”
Nursery Rhyme
The Bible contains all kinds of literature. Psalm 34 for example is a nursery rhyme. It is built as an Acrostic and even quotes the “Sunday School Teacher”:
“Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the LORD.”
The Power of Prayer
Do you believe in the Power of Prayer? Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises. Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.
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