I was headed to the garden this morning to put a little water on the plants … when this airplane streak across the sky stopped me in my tracks! The way the early morning sunlight caught the passing trail was striking, especially juxtaposed against the brilliant blue sky!
I couldn’t help but think: This is what our life is like. This is what each of our lives is like.
We go about our normal daily routine, just like that airplane going about its normal daily route flying from here to there. It has no idea I’m way down here on this little patch of earth carrying water over to my garden. It has no idea the way the early morning sunlight is catching its trail so brilliantly.
It has no idea that it’s passing just stopped me in my tracks with awe and wonder!
So also, in the same way … in each of our lives we have no idea as we “fly” through life that our passing-by might be making a difference to someone, somewhere. We have no idea that someone, somewhere might be noticing the “sunlight” of Jesus catching the passing “trail” of our life so brilliantly.
We have no idea that someone, somewhere going about their normal daily activities, was just stopped in their tracks.
We have no idea the impact our life is having on those around us.
I was reading through the book of Ecclesiastes yesterday. The author starts out: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningly! Everything is meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” – Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
It reminded me of these photos of bubbles from back in 2022. As the bubbles float away, they are like our life. We might wonder: What’s the point of the bubbles anyway? They don’t last very long. They just pop. So do the bubbles even matter??
The bubbles matter because they are fun! They sparkle and shimmer with rainbows of color in the sunlight! They dance on the breeze! They float way up high … higher and higher!
Little kids love bubbles! You have to be like a little child to really grasp how wonderful bubbles are!
It doesn’t matter that bubbles pop. Bubbles are still fun! They still bring joy! They still bring delight!
Bubbles are a cause for awe and wonder as they sparkle and shimmer with rainbows of color.
Bubbles are a cause for awe and wonder as they dance on the breeze … floating this way and that on air currents we can’t see.
This is our life!
Yes, our life doesn’t last long … just like bubbles don’t last long.
But our life, just like bubbles, can be a cause for awe and wonder! Little children get this. Little children are in awe and wonder about everything!
As we age, we get cynical. We’ve had hopes dashed. We’ve been disappointed and hurt.
We give up on our hope. We give up on trusting people. We give up on trying one more time. This is basically the sentiment of the book of Ecclesiastes.
As I was pondering all these things this morning, there went another airplane across the sky … it’s trail shimmering brilliant in the morning sunlight.
This is our life!
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14
“Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12
Yes, the airplane streak in the sky is only here for a little bit then it vanishes away. But in that moment, it stopped me in my tracks and made me look up! In that moment, it filled me with awe and wonder! In that moment, it brought joy to my morning!
This is our life!
In a passing moment our life might be stopping someone in their tracks and prompting them look up! In a passing moment our life might be filling someone somewhere with hope. In a passing moment, our life might be bringing joy to someone’s day, somewhere.
Yes, bubbles are only here for a little while then they pop and vanish away. But in that brief bit of time, they bring great joy! In that brief bit of time they cause little kids to run and dance and play with them! In that brief bit of time they bring about a joyful response by everyone around!
This is our life!
The author of Ecclesiastes says it well: “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
“That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God.” – Ecclesiastes 3:13
“I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.” – Ecclesiastes 3:22
“I realized that it is good and proper for a person to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them – for this is their lot.” – Ecclesiastes 6:18
The author of Ecclesiastes keeps going …
“Nothing is better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their work all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 8:15
“Enjoy life with your spouse whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun – all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” – Ecclesiastes 9:9-10
Yes, your life is brief and vanishing away, like an airplane streak in the sky. Yes, it feels like most of what we do in life is meaningless. But do it anyway! Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Be the best “bubble” there ever was! Even if lots of your “bubbles of hope” pop … keep being the best “bubble” there ever was! It’s not a waste. It’s not meaningless … even though it might feel like it.
Your life is bringing joy to the world! Your life is making a difference! Keep at it! Don’t stop! Keep going!
