Holiday Merriment

It seemed an odd birthday gift: a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit that came in the mail on April 30th. At first glance I wondered whether it might be someone's clever observation about the year I just had, or some clairvoyance about the year to come.

Now this: Just as we're admiring the evergreens and enjoying the plum pudding, a gentle reminder from our friends at the National Cremation Service that nothing lasts forever.

The stitches from my abominable abdominal surgery have yet to be removed, and I'm not allowed to lift more than ten pounds for at least another week. Did I really need another reminder that the end is near?

*******

In the helpful book, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, Marcus Borg offers an instructive view of three books in the Hebrew Scriptures, Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs offers us a view of linear justice, that is to say, you get what you deserve. Job then turns that notion on its head, reminding us that bad things do indeed happen to good people. Finally Ecclesiastes sums it all up with the keen observation that we'll probably never figure any of this out, and that we might as well enjoy the ride while we can.

I now joyfully embrace the Ecclesiastes perspective. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow's mail will probably include a FIT test kit, or some sad reminder of our mortality. Wait! There won't be any mail delivery tomorrow. Yet one more reason to be Merry....