What is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?

And, live we how we can, yet die we must.

Henry VI, Part III, V, ii, 27

We’ve been trapped in an icy wonderland for most of the week. We live in a unique weather system called the “gorge affect”. It’s because of the beautiful ninety-mile canyon known as the Columbia River Gorge nearby.

When driving east on the freeway right next to the river, the stunning views entertain visitors and residents alike. Multiple waterfalls— and the crown jewel, Multnomah Falls—are right outside your car window. Then snow-covered Mount Hood looms into view, so close to the highway. And then, at about ninety miles east of Portland, there’s a stark change. Instead of steep cliffs and evergreens interspersed with waterfalls, there are large, brown, rolling hills.

 

That’s a lot of description, but if you aren’t from this area of the country, you may not know what I’m talking about.

We love the beautiful area we live in but for about a week each year,  we experience this gorge affect and are trapped in our homes. It’s too dangerous to even walk in the sparkly wonderland, so slippery it is.

Outside my office..frosty window

While we’ve been trapped in our homes, we’ve been indulging in watching multiple seasons of “The Crown”. The story of the Royal Family in Great Britain. It starts with young Princess Elizabeth to Queen Elizabeth throughout her life until she is eighty years old. In the last episode which I understand to be the last, she decides to continue to reign until she cannot any longer due to physical or mental capabilities. I really admire her steadfastness and the public service she gave. Yes, she lived in luxurious surroundings. She was served every meal, helped choose and be dressed for the day, but she was a public servant. There were duties and decisions. Visits to make. Having to shake dozens and dozens of hands wherever she went. Here she was, at eighty years old with a decision. Should she hand over her power to her son, Prince Charles? The younger Queen Elizabeth appears to her (there were three actresses who portrayed her adult life) and encourages her to keep on. Her husband Prince Philip encourages her to do so as well.

I wonder if she thought about Shakespeare’s play that “pomp, rule reign, but earth and dust” is the end? It started me thinking about my own life. It’s sobering, too. Just this week as I read through the Bible chronologically in the book of Job: “All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust” (Job 34:15).

That brings it to me–and you, too. I believe there are only two things that will last forever. The Word of God, and our soul. We will return to dust, but our soul remains. It’s inevitable that we will die, Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Those are sobering words, but something each one of us must consider. We all have a time to live here on earth and then die…all the days ordained for me were written in your book (Psalms139:16).

“Lord, as I contemplate my days, please help me as I live my life for as long as You determine. I rest in You and commit my days to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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