CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
April 13, 2008
25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373
www.geocites.com/adon77373/cypresswoodbulletin.htm
www.cpresswoodchurchofchrist.com
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Our congregation For peace
Our nation, military and leaders Various friends, relatives and co-workers
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all” (Ecclesiastes 11:8).
Okay, I haven’t talked about Star Trek for a long time. In the original show, the Vulcan character, Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, using a hand signal, often gave as greeting or farewell by saying, “Live long and prosper.” In an interview a number of years ago, he said that this was a Jewish blessing from the mystical side of Judaism. It is a blessing that I would like to examine.
As one grows older, one begins to look at life, both past and present. Health issues often cause this. I was in a conversation recently about growing older and the aging of the body. Of course, I don’t know if we really want to live nine hundred years. As the folk singing group, The Limeliters, sing in a song called “The Forty Year Old Waltz,” “self-destructing body parts are trying to do me in.” We began to realize that what we could do when twenty we cannot do now. When I was a soccer referee, in my thirties I was able to run up and down the field. In my forties I walked, and in my fifties I stood in the middle and directed traffic. The young think they are immortal but age has a way of bringing reality to mind.
Reflecting on life can be good or bad. The scriptures have people reflecting on various aspects of life. Moses looked back at Israel’s deliverance and preparation to enter the promise land. Joshua reflected on the conquest of the land. The Psalmists often remembered the past, good and bad. The Chronicle writer reminded Israel of their past in seeking and not seeking God. Paul looked out of a Roman prison and was reminded of his life as a Christian, and from other prisons , was reminded of his earlier life.
Maybe that is why reunions are popular. We like to go back and remember when we were with family members and the stories they told, or with classmates and the experiences we shared. Of course, we do have somewhat selective memories, usually trying to remember the good stuff. While there are things we like to forget, and the “good old days” might not have been as good as we think, we still enjoy the reflection. The same can be said about pictures that we take over the years; pictures of vacations, children growing, places visited, and various events.
Then there is the here and now. We can choose to be happy or grumpy about our current state. Work can be a drag, mundane and routine. I understand this, but, life can also be good. Good friends, good fellowship, family are all important as we grow older. Grandkids bring a joy to life and a renewal of youth, though two and three year olds are definitely for the young. There are the opportunities to go places and enjoy each others company, whether it is grown children and travel, or a husband and wife taking a vacation together alone. If you remember in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Sean Connery who played Indiana Jones’ dad, in response to Harrison Ford’s character Indiana talking about their relationship when Indy was a teen, the dad said that Indy was just getting interesting to talk with when he left.
I think that life really is a lot of fun, even though there are stressful times. I’m reading good books, enjoy folk music and contemporary Christian music. I am looking forward to going to Bible lectureships. Even the political season can be interesting. Yevette and I have shared much and we look forward to sharing more. And I still have dreams.
Looking forward is important as well. As one grows older and comes face to face with ones own mortality, we realize that we need to look at what really matters. A local preacher from a non-denominational group has written a book about what one would do if they knew they only had a month to live (1). That’s an interesting question. How would we live our lives? The basis of the book comes from his experiences with people who were dying and what they were focused on. He then asked his congregation if we could live that way even though we had our whole life in front of us and what it would mean for the Christian influence. Paul talked about pressing on to the goal of life in Christ, especially in eternity. But he also realized that we live in the here and now and must live accordingly (see Philippians 3).
One would think when we hear Mr. Spock’s blessing about prosperity, that he had material things in mind. The Vulcans in the Star Trek series was not materially minded. They attempted to live on a different plain. So with us. I think that I have been prosperous not because of the things I have; a thirty year old house, ten and twenty year old cars, etc., isn’t prosperity from a worldly point of view. But I have been prosperous because of what I have experienced and shared with family and friends. How we define prosperity will influence how we live. That’s why the prosperity gospel is such a misleading message. It is self-reliant and self-deceiving. God promises many things one of which is a difficult life. All we have to do is read Paul’s prison letters and Revelation to see that.
Long life in Jewish theology was an important factor. When we read through the Hebrew scriptures, we see the emphasis on the aged. The elders of a town sat at the entrance. Business was conducted and discussions occurred. Respect was shown to the aged because of that (see Job). The Law of Moses expressed the importance of respecting older people, something we have lost in our society to some extent. Long life was a blessing to any Jewish group, and no wonder, when we think of the characters of scripture. Moses was eighty when he lead Israel to the promise land and Joshua the same age when he conquered Canaan. Job was well along in years. David and Solomon both reigned for forty years. There were the special births. Abraham and Sarah was the most famous having a child at one hundred and ninety respectively. Zachariah and Elizabeth were older parents as well.
We all would like to live a long life. Yet scripture teaches us that anything past seventy years is a blessing from God. We need to give thanks to God for all who live long lives and the benefits they can provide for those of us that follow. Sadly, we have grown up in a culture that stated that we should trust no one over thirty. That generation is now approaching retirement and is paying for that philosophy in the disrespect younger people show. It was a wrong philosophy that we need to correct. This is not to say that the older generation is perfect. It has had its share of disrespect for those who are younger, something Paul warned Timothy against.
Life is a joy and more so as a Christian. I share Mr. Spock’s greeting and farewell. Live long and prosper.
George B. Mearns
(1) Kerry Shook, One Month To Live.