Builders For Eternity

A couple of years ago I made up 8 X 8 scrapbook albums for my Mom and Mother-in-law for Christmas. The albums consisted of two pages of each of their grandchildren (and greats). The first was a baby photo, and the second was a current photo. Each page had pertinent information to each child, such as date of birth, names, meaning of names and when possible, interests or talents of each child. The first page in each album had Psalm 23 written on it, and the last page had the poem below written out:

Isn't it strange that Princes and Kings
and Clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people like you and me,
are builders for eternity?

Each is given a bag of tools,
a shapeless mass, and a book of rules,
and each must be e'er life is flown,
a stumbling block, or a stepping stone.
                                                          By: R.L. Sharpe

Ever since then, I often find myself reciting this poem in my head. Somehow it speaks to me. I don't believe we are destined for death. Our destinies are to live eternally. Death, although very much a part of this physical world, is not the end. 

This existence we call life is more like a learning time, or a building time, if you like. The nice thing is, we are not alone. We were given things to use on our journey through life and into eternity. We are given a shapeless mass I call free-will, and then we are left to exercise it. Isn't free-will kind of shapeless? We decide what we do with it...it has no shape until we shape it, yet how we shape it reflects the type of person we are or will eventually become.

We've also been given a book of rules. This book guides us on our way. It tells us what the truth is and what is right and wrong. It tells us how to shape our free-will and how to make it through this learning time and into eternity. This book is the Bible. Without it, we wander aimlessly.

We are also given tools. I like to think of these as our abilities or giftings. How we use these tools also reflects our accomplishments in this life. Whether for good, or for bad, whether to help or to hurt.

Yes, this poem really makes me think a lot about the life I'm building here on earth and into eternity. I thought it made an appropriate last page for the albums since it suggests that there is something eternal about us. This life is really not the last page of our existence. Our lives are just the beginning, a learning phase leading to the prospect of eternity.

I guess that's really all I have to say today.

I love this poem my son Tony wrote. It spoke to me of his understanding for those that are lost and forgotten. So much raw emotion is felt when reading this short poem. I was amazed at his clarity as he was just a teenager at the time.

True Feelings

She sits in a hall
Staring at the wall
Expressionless.

Her friends all wearing blues and greens,
She is all black, from hair to jeans,
Worthless.

As her friends all talk about,
She's the one who seems to stand out,
Emotionless.

As her friends all laugh and cheer,
Forming on her face, a tear,
Friendless.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to...

Build with purpose!