Carpe Diem
There is a story that goes with the painting of Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent that hangs in the White House. Sargent had been waiting about the mansion for several days, wanting a chance to see the president and talk to him about doing his portrait. One morning the two met unexpectedly as Roosevelt was descending the stairway in his usual bullish manner.
When might there be a convenient time for the president to pose for him, the artist asked. “Now!” said the president. So there he is, the Hero of San Juan Hill, standing at the foot of the stairs, his hand on the newel post. It’s an amazing painting, capturing more of the subtleties of the TR personality than any ever done of him.
And in the story there is a great lesson for us in these days of quarantine and terror. You have this time now, friend, and are promised no other. Seize it. With your hand firmly on your own newel post opportunity today do your very best in light of Christ’s best!
The Preacher puts it like this: “You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 - So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless. 12:1 - Remember your Creator…” (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1a).
Do you see four groupings of imperatives here? Relish joy in youthful vigor (9a). Live fully knowing you answer to God (9c). Cast away cares (10ab). Honor your Creator (1). Let’s take only the first and last briefly to encourage us to always do our best in light of his best.
A. Relish joy in youthful vigor. Doris Kearns Goodwin writes that one of the reasons the American public loved Teddy Roosevelt was the irrepressible exuberance with which he went at life. He never entered a door or a commitment halfheartedly. If he was in - like stopping suddenly to pose for a picture - he was all in. A contemporary of his remembers that “he even danced just as you’d expect him to dance if you knew him. He hopped.”
Hopping is what kids do. You can walk one step at a time, but hopping is something you do with your whole self. Hopping is what even adults do in moments of great joy, when they pop the question and she says yes, or get the raise, or their team wins the World Series. God says through Solomon if you are going to be young, and you are only once, “Hop!” Choose joy.
Sure that’s hard to do when the grandchild won’t be consoled, the economy literally shuts down, or melanoma reaches stage 4. Yet, you actually can choose to find gladness in the Lord of time and eternity, in his promise to work all for good, and his love for you in Christ in any and all situations.
Earlier in Ecclesiastes 5:19 Solomon reminds us that in life when we enjoy both the bounty and the capacity of what God gives us be it good or bad this is a gift from God. “Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil - this is a gift of God.” God gave the greatest grace in Christ to win us salvation. We are his own and are forgiven by grace. We can trust his grace for choosing joy too. So in all the drama of COVID 19, when all the chips seemingly are stacked against you, choose to still rejoice. Believe this choice is empowered and made possible by his grace. Hop. Hop to help others. Hop to share burdens. Hop to point others to joy in Christ. Seize the day joyfully.
B. Remember your Creator. Long before the travel restrictions, Harvey Kidd, vacationed in the Rocky Mountains with his grandson Richard. One day they were admiring their grandeur, and after a few minutes of thoughtful silence Richard broke out, “Just think Pee-paw- God did all this with only one hand!” Grandpa puzzled over this for a moment, then asked his grandson what he meant. “Oh, you know, Pee-paw,” he replied, “the Bible says Jesus was sitting on the right hand of God.”
With one arm being sat upon our great Creator could have called it all into existence – effortlessly. Listen to this: “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 - When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future” (Ecclesiastes 7:13, 14).
How small are we finite creatures really? We are ignorant on our own of the future. But the Creator is in charge, composing all and knowing all. His purposes are not being stopped by a pandemic. He was on the throne before it started and will be there after it is gone. So with the choice for joy remember your Creator now. Don’t think of him only as someone who created and is resting as it all falls apart like a Goodwill sweater. No, he is right now making. He is right now sustaining, upholding all things by his powerful Word, orchestrating for kingdom advancement and our good.
Therefore, with your hand on this newel post opportunity of frightening times share your faith. Respect social distancing but let others know they’re loved by a God who came the distance. Replace panic with prayer, putting the prevailing power of God into play for others. Love, serve, worship and do your very best in everything in light of his very best. Carpe Diem.
