Celebrating Life

Can we truly celebrate life without first recognizing its preciousness, its worth, and accepting that it is finite?

Because life is short, every moment carries unique meaning. In the Old Testament, Job expresses this truth so perfectly, “A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble, comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last.” (Job 14:1–2) Life’s very fragility reveals its preciousness. Job later cries out to God with striking honesty, “Remember that my life is a breath.” (7:7)

The Life God Desires

This year, even more than in previous years, I have been amazed by the abundance and explosion of life that bursts forth in springtime. We experienced a very long winter in northern Alberta, and deep down I had resigned myself to the idea that nature might not return with the same richness this year. Some plants have probably died, I told myself. Yet, as faithfully as the sun rises each morning, spring arrived right on time, perhaps a little later than usual, but no less full of life. How could we not celebrate such a wonderful gift from God?