W. H. Auden wrote a poem entitled “September 1, 1939” it says in part:
“Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day
The lights must never go out
The music must always play
Lest we know where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the dark,
Who have never been happy or good.”
Is your life boring? Do you cling to your average day? Is your life so routine the sameness drives you up a wall? Do you appear to the world as if you “have it all together”? Yet, in the words of Thoreau, “you are living a life of quiet desperation.”
We of all people are blessed. And even with this in mind, some days I feel guilty about how little vision and purpose I live out my life. In many ways our lives are routine and boring but what are we looking forward to?
Do you have any plans to march into hell for a Heavenly cause? Do you truly believe, with God’s help, that we can impact our society for Christ? Or, do we cling to our average days just running out the rest of our life, living as Auden would say “in a haunted wood, afraid of the dark.” Don’t be afraid of the dark. Share Christ, the light of the world. Proverbs 15:33-16:7: The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster. The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
Do you have any vision for the future? Commit it the Lord. Remember in all you do, “fear the Lord” but never forget to please the Lord. In the end, in all we do, our overriding ambition should be to please the Lord.
The question was asked: “what is the purpose of man?” The answer: to know God and enjoy Him forever. Do away with your average days. Let’s enjoy God forever. Have vision. This is the vision: Zechariah 9:16-17: “The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.”
Lord, by your power, turn our average days into days where we fear you and please you and may we enjoy you forever. Amen
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