One Six Thousandth of a Second by Gordon Neave

Following the recent death of a dear friend, I became aware that nothing in this world ceases to exist as quickly as life. Whether due to a long illness or a tragic accident, in the blink of an eye a living, thinking, loving and loved person ceases to exist.

An e-mail address and phone number are removed from a contact list. Clothing is discarded. A car is sold. A garden is left untended. A voice is no longer heard. A hug no longer is felt, and a pillow lays cold on it’s bed.

Condense the 14 billion years of the history of our universe into a single 24-hour day, and a person’s life represents one six thousandth of a second. A veritable instant. Yet, even in the face of all of this, if we hold in our hearts the wonders of God’s creation, we can do nothing but rejoice.

We conduct our lives on a ball hanging in space, the very existence of which depends upon an uncanny combination of conditions the odds against which are immeasurable. The sun warms us. Water abounds. Trees create oxygen, thereby precluding suffocation. Creatures take on thousands of fascinating and beautiful forms.

Although His gift of perception makes us aware of these things, we are also blessed with an intellect that allows us to manipulate them to better our existence. WE THINK. How wondrous is that? We build and drive or fly amazing machines to and fro. We arrange sounds into complex patterns that please our ears. Wow! We can hear! We make contraptions that take us into space or allow us to view objects in the cosmos that are thousands of light years away.

The enemy blinds us with all of the negativities he creates in this world in order to have his way. Yes, life is a challenge. Yes, we will die. But YES, God has also provided us with wonderful blessings that are the very essence of our existence. We need to remain aware of them, love those around us, and praise Him for providing us with the opportunity to do so. What a great six thousandth of a second we can have if we remember to do this.

When it became evident that my friend may be dying, he said to me: “If I live, I walk in this world for Him. If I die, I walk in Heaven with Him. Either way, I win.” Now that is peace.

Praise God.

Gordon Neave
Florida Hospital Church Drummer, and Guest Blogger