There are, it seems to me, profound truths that can be hard to see.
Take the paradox, for instance.
It’s not always as it seems when viewed from a distance.
A closer look will in time unveil that there’s more than first impressions weaving a deeper tale.
What at first appeared absurd, does in time find that an audience, its vindication, has heard.
Thus, it was an apparent inconsistency that proves itself in the right to be.
Things, that their extensiveness has caused one to weigh, was at first not given a thought hence holding little sway.
It is, then, onto this path that we must trod.
A consideration, as it were, of a life that points us to our compassionate and loving God.
Not that there is a simple superficial answer, but a deeper and wider insight that one can decipher.
It is a journey regarding a dear friend.
A Christian who is now sadly reaching life’s nearer end.
On one hand, he is a man, which means he has not always measured up to his desired plan.
So, he, like us all, is a mixture of good and their concomitant intentions alongside hope-failed and heart-wrenching machinations.
Thus, his life-language’s deeper meaning, does in its time reveal, that he is more than a man, he is also an ideal.
A paradox of sorts waiting to be told.
A walking deeper meaning for any open eye to behold.
And so, as you share in the wonders of experience in his life, he is speaking of truths apart from so-called strife.
Nevertheless, when it comes to the manishness of this man, he has left things undone and not always what could have been.
And so, he is one hand, larger than life, and yet remains substantially unknown.
At the same time, he is a friend to many, but will have his name etched in only one stone.
Therefore, he is a man.
Yet, he is also an ideal.
To that end, I have seen him manifest his endearing love for his wife.
It is a love that has set a standard for me and my life.
When he speaks of her, he speaks with great affection.
He is kind, he is gentle, and he loves her with sweet circumspection.
Another aspect I have witnessed is his understanding of godly identity.
He has shared countless times the wonders on the human wrought by the Holy Trinity.
His words still ring true, “You are not what you do, you are not even what others say of you, and you are not what you can control.”
Instead, you are a child of God with a new-life altered soul.
He is a man, and yet he is an ideal.
To you, my dear friend. To you.
In your own words, God has set not only our birthday, but our death-day too.
And so, you remind us all to number our days.
That we may together offer to our God a life of praise.
Not only this, but a larger appeal.
That a life well-lived is comprised of both the manishness of man and also an ideal.
“So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
— March 23, 2022