Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death
Celebrating Birthday is to celebrate the person. Henri Nouwen said that before. How true it is. The reason why we celebrate someone's birthday is because we are glad that the person was born years ago.
A story was told that in China, a guest gave a present to a pair of new parents celebrating their child first month a scroll. When they open it up, it wrote Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death.
The new parents were offended and asked the guest how could he wrote such inauspicious words. The man explained it is blessed to be born and then to age and only when at old age a person get sick and die. That's a normal life cycle and it is a good thing.
Today, a good friend of mine, on her birthday, visited another of my friend in hospital. The news is no good as this friend has to go for another operation. It is depressing. I think the birthday girl did a kind act in visiting her. It some how reminds me again that life is indeed about living the best for God wherever we are. Moses, taking on as a Psalmist, reminded us to count our days so that we can be wise. The wise man told us that it is better to be in the house of mourning than in our house of laughter. Indeed, the impending death for each of us should remind us that we shall meet our Creator one day. How are we going to account for the precious life given?
I don't about you, I know I am still learning to make each days His. It will be frightening if that thought has not occured to you.
"Better to go to the house of mourning, Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. " Ec 7:2
"So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. " Psalm 90:12
tse horng blogged at 4:05 PM
