I was conversing with a friend, and he lamented the fact that I do so many things and have a ball. He said he was too poor to do what I’m doing.
Huh?
The things I enjoy in life are available to anyone. I love the great outdoors, especially fishing, and hunting. I also enjoy hiking or just gazing at the mountains, oceans, and rivers, or even pine, spruce, aspen, or oak forests. I love sunsets and sunrises and wildlife of every description. I enjoyed working out at the gym until I tore my rotator cuff, and cycling. I love to play guitar and to paint artistic renderings.
Solomon said the race is not always to the swift – but if we are grateful for each day we are given, we will live and end our days satisfied.
I was discussing this with an acquaintance who lives adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Even if he could not afford a boat, he could go fish the fish from the rocks of the jetties, or a bridge and have a good time and catch some nice fish.
How do I know that? I used to do it.
I was not born wealthy and was homeless and living on the street. I did not hit the lottery and worked for years and years before I could even buy my first car at age 30. I did not have any property, so I hunted on public land and fished in ponds and creeks or wherever I was allowed. I camped in a tent, ate beanie weenies, and enjoyed the heck out of it.
I’ve learned that some folks just want to sit around on the couch and watch TV and talk about things that might have been if only they had been born rich or had been “lucky”. It has been my experience that most of these folks wake up in a foul mood and go downhill from there. As for me I usually wake up whistling and always try my darndest to get the most out of each day. God gives us days of adversity and prosperity, but they both come from Him; hence, I take each day as it comes and try hard to make the absolute best out of them.
I love studying Ecclesiastes and in chapter 9 King Solomon talks at length about death. I don’t care if you are rich or poor, beautiful, or ugly, tall or short, Democrat or Republican or fed up with both, we all have one thing in common. We are all going to die one day unless raptured first. Good advice – Love God, whistle every morning, and be in a good mood . . . While you can.
Solomon said we should live each day to its fullest; every meal should be considered a banquet, every day should be lived as if it was a fun party, we should live each day of marriage like a honeymoon and work every day as though this was going to be our final achievement. (I suppose we should hunt and fish like that too). Basically, death comes to us all and we don’t know when. So, live each day as an adventure. Solomon said that we should recognize that death is coming and live differently because of it.
Basically, I believe we should just live our lives to the fullest and take no prisoners. I’m sold on it. And take it from one of the wealthiest men to ever live, Solomon, wealth ain’t what it is cracked up to be. In a smaller way, I can attest to that too. Don’t always be wishing for something you don’t have. Someone will always have more and besides you have plenty enough if you will just take advantage of it.
Eccl. 5:12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.