Days Like A Shadow
This is an audio recording of Days like a Shadow the Day 14 entry in Today: Devotions for Seafarers (Vol. 2) by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Donielle Hart Goad or read the text below:
“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. . .”
Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.” So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king. ”
A particular difficulty of being a seafarer comes when you are far from family, especially if you have a wife and children. It is a great blessing that many seafarers can now see their families regularly over the Internet on video chat. They are often reminded to spend as much time with them at home and online as they can. The people who give this advice are often older seafarers who regret not having seen their children as much as they might have. Nonetheless, all who give such advice have learned how fast their children grow up, especially if they don't see them for months at a time. They will say that it seems as if one day the children are babies and the next day they are teenagers.
This is one example of something we all face as we grow older: Time flies. When you are young, life seems to stretch out a long way before you, but with every passing decade you realize just how short life is.
David realized this when he prepared to hand the kingdom over to his son Solomon. Though David had lived a long and intense life, he realized the end would come all too soon. If we think that the meaning of life is in the length of its days, we come up empty handed: we hold on to shadows, we have no hope.
Yet David's final note was one of praise. Though life is short, he knew what was important as he led his people in worship. May our time on earth also be filled from beginning to end with praise for the Creator who gives it meaning.
For Further Thought
Why is it important to spend time with your children?
Have you been on board a ship when your child was born? What was that experience like for you?
What should we do when life seems to pass by so quickly?
Prayer
Father God, the days of our lives are short. Please send your Spirit to guide us so that we do not stumble or fall. Forgive us when we seek our own kingdoms instead of yours. May we instead honor your glorious name. Amen.
