Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Twilight Years of Life (07/02/09)
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TITLE: True Rewards | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joanne Cordaro
07/08/09 -
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The hot sun has slipped from sight and now resides just below the horizon. Although the sun has dipped from my view, I can still see its reflection of bright orange light against blue sky. The sky is now a beautiful pallet of oranges, purples, and pinks. I silently thank God that His hand has again painted such a masterpiece for us.
Twilight has always been my favorite time of day. The hustle and bustle of the busy day slowly winds down. The children seem to use up most of their kinetic energy. There is a softness that fatigue brings to the faces of both children and animals. The whirl of life slows to a more leisurely, relaxed pace.
Darkening, but not yet night, there’s time to enjoy a tall glass of mint tea with my family and some friends before evening fully sets in. There is time for all of us to sit and marvel at the beauty of a starlit evening as well as to enjoy the dance of fire flies.
The work of the day is over. Man and beast have earned their rest. That unrelenting race to get everything accomplished subsides, at least momentarily. It’s funny, isn’t it, how much self-induced pressure we apply to themselves in our younger days?
Does it really matter if every weed is pulled from the garden today or if every dish is washed? Will the office really fall apart if you leave early enough to have dinner with your family? Do we understand dishes can wait? After all, there will always be dishes needing to be washed. Just as there will always be numbers to calculate and papers to file.
Perhaps my eyesight has weakened, but my vision is clear. I want to jump up and down and yell, “Oh! Make no mistake my young friends, time eludes you, too!” It’s true. Ever in motion, time’s passing is barely perceptible. It is like the proverbial thief in the night.
In youthful haste, the young sometimes forget that time is passing for them, too. I know I did. But, their children will be grown in the blink of an eye, just like mine. Cherished friends will somehow drift apart due to nothing more than apathy. Careers may flourish, but that success will be fleeting and will not provide comfort in those later years. And, what of our Savior? Will he somehow be squeezed to fit into the schedule? Will time be spent with Him only when there is extra time in the schedule? Like every meaningful relationship, we must spend time with Him, talk to Him, and listen to Him.
It’s interesting that I can see things so much clearer now, without the glare of the sun in my eyes. Today, I see past the façade of my youth. In its place, there’s a deep appreciation for the wise use of my own remaining light. Over the years, but especially at this point in my life, I have come to some heartfelt realizations. Man’s rewards are tangible and often considered valuable; but God’s rewards are eternal and priceless.
As the sun sets today, and on a greater scale, as my own life’s twilight has appeared, I am content. I know what’s important in life; love and relationships. I have a personal relationship with Jesus, and He has one with me. In heaven and on earth, I am loved and I love. Now, those are God’s greatest rewards.
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