When I was a boy I was part of a weekly boys club. Wed meet in a local school gymnasium to play games, learn outdoor skills and listen to stories. My club leader took a few of those stories from a thin little book that absolutely captured my attention. It was called Tall Tales that are True by B.C. storyteller Arthur H. Townsend. I was impressed that the stories were true. In my estimation, it gave them greater impact.
Like the story of well-loved painter Emily Carr.
Millie was a bit eccentric. She used to haul groceries in a baby buggy. Along for the ride was her pet monkey. But it was the hours of seclusion that made most people think her strange. I guess thats what it took for her to perfect her art. Emily Carr was enraptured by the beauty that surrounded her in British Columbia. She loved animals and birds and the rugged life of First Nations Peoples who lived along the coast of Vancouver Island. She spent hours with them, sketching and painting.
They named her Klee Wyck - the Laughing One. The year before she died in 1945 at 74 years of age, Millie achieved recognition and success.
But heres the part of the story that amazed me as a boy. A family bought a house that Emily Carr had occupied. When they cleaned the house before moving in, they found dozens upon dozens of sketches and paintings done by Millie and stored in the attic. Unaware of the treasure they had, they burned everything in their back yard. I did a quick Google search and discovered that in 2009 an Emily Carr painting sold for more than $2 million. That had been a multi-million-dollar bonfire.
When asked about their mistake, a member of this family said, Every time I think about it, it makes me sick. They simply didnt realize the value of what they had.
I wonder if we do the same? In Psalm 90, Moses makes a comparison between the timeless character of God and the frailty and brevity of his own life as a human being. And with this stark contrast in mind, Moses prays: Lord teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12).
The life we live is a gift. Do we recognize the value of it?
We have been given this life to enjoy, to positively impact the lives of others, and most importantly to get to know God. The Bible teaches that every man, woman, and child was created to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If thats true, and if this life is the only opportunity we have to meet God, then wisdom dictates we consider Him.
Maybe we should pray like Moses. Lord, Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
