“…yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14 (ESV)
As a cancer survivor, I can say, without a doubt, that Life Matters! Walking, breathing, laughing, eating, drinking, sharing, loving, basking in the glory of God’s creations – all the attributes, processes and activities associated with life – matters. The plants matter, as do the seas and oceans and all the creatures that dwell in the them and above. The delicate balance between all Gods creatures on earth matter. Life Matters.
We spend a lot of time talking about the colors of life and which ones’ matter. And I can certainly make an argument for the importance of them all – especially Black Lives. Being an African American woman of a certain age, I know firsthand the atrocities, micro-aggressions, assaults on Black lives that fuel the Black Lives Matter Movement. I’m down with that; I even bought the tee-shirt – no really. It’s back with silver beads.
But I’m finding that something is missing with all the movements. In the face of a calamity, such as a hurricane or an earthquake, what’s of importance is life. Not the color of the life or the species of the life. We frantically search for loved ones, pets, and farm animals. We look with dismay when the tree topples or is uprooted. We care because somewhere deep in our souls we know that all life matters. We are all necessary to maintain the balance that God created to sustain life on this big beautiful blue planet.
When dealing with a major health issue and face losing your healthcare insurance, what’s important is life. When your loved ones are breathing their last breath – all that matters is life. You call upon God to save that life, without thought or notion about the transgressions committed that led to that point. You seek immediate salvation without thought for the years spent in frolic and fun, mindless of the brevity of your life. Thank Jesus we serve a God of Mercy, who is righteous and faithful to us, in spite of ourselves.
We don’t have time to waste on hurting each other or jockeying for position on the food chain. All life matters and we need to thank God for the blessing, for we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.
Teri McClanahan 