Job 8:9
For we were born yesterday, unknowing,
Our days on earth but shadows.
(Written 5/11, Posted 5/17)
“Comparatively our days on earth are a shadow of theirs”. This did not sound at all poetic to me, so I went with the chopped-up version. I had the opportunity to speak with an acquaintance last night and used it to begin to know him more. I approached it as an opportunity to serve God and I felt I had at least done something right for the day.
When I first reread this, I envisioned our days on earth as our future and the shadows as our dreams of what could be. I am not sure I saw this the first few times, but one thought was how this verse allows us to put the pain of yesterday behind us and use it only as an excuse to do better today. I am not sure birth hurts a baby, but they sure do cry a lot (sometimes).
As opposed to being “born” yesterday, my sources also used “we are but of”, “of”, “no older than” and “are” yesterday. I like the multitude of paths that follow each of these. The “no older than” yesterday implies we did not learn anything. The “of” yesterday (and similar) implies we no longer matter. I do not agree with either as an optimal outcome and picked the born part. Many had “know nothing”, but I liked the simplicity of “unknowing”.
There was almost no difference in the translations of the second stitch.
I prefer to not make the same mistake again. I prefer for others not to make the same mistake after I pointed it out to them. Cats do not learn in this manner. I am not sure people do either. When I was born, it was impossible for me to have known anything. Before I was reborn as a Christian, it was impossible for me to have known what it meant to live for Christ. My future on earth is but a shadow of my future in heaven. I like to think that I can use this verse to focus on today, not worrying about my past failures, and not beating myself up for my failures today. I am hardheaded, not un-like the chosen people of God. I need to be daily reminded of my need to obey and use the day to glorify God.