You must be a gambler

“Yes, I can understand that a man might go to gambling table – when he sees that all that lies between himself and death is his last crown”
Honoré de Balzac

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14

DSCN0321
(an unmarked ancient grave in the cemetery of St. Kevin’s Monastery Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland / Julie Cook / 2015)

Words were once uttered.
Promises were clearly made
Covenants and tenants were freely given.

A roadmap, if you will, to living within the realm of balance.

Dos and Don’ts
Cans and can’ts
Yes and no

The wisdom of one Wiser than yourself issued a decree.

Ancient words now reduced to dust
Mumbo jumbo and poppycock
Fairytale dribble

You deem its relevance unnecessary

Was it real or imagined
Made up, fabricated, perpetuated
Promises given or just a pack of silly lies?

Yet in the back of your mind, you’re always left wondering…
There are days you consider the possibilities
Did He?
Didn’t He?
Was He?
Wasn’t He?

Is He…?

You live your life as though He never was.
His words, if they were His words, mean nothing to you.
You scoff, you ridicule, you curse His very existence.
Yet the words dog you, nagging and nipping at your heels.
Why curse that which you deem non-existent?
Why do you let it bother you, allowing it under your skin,
if it’s nothing but a tale?

You roll the dice each morning when you wake.
You’ve perfected a poker face…all the while hiding behind the emptiness
You live your life as if the odds are stacked forever in your favor…
yet you can’t help but wonder…

Take the risk or play it safe, throwing caution to the wind…
Or do you simply turn around, walking away forever…
A friendly little wager of “what if”…
…or is it really something much more costly…

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

9 comments on “You must be a gambler

  1. Nicodemas says:

    Very powerful Julie.

  2. Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging and commented:
    Sweet stuff Julie, thank you!!

  3. Ooooooh, very powerful and full of relevant abs to knock people out of their foolish complaceny and denial. One can only assume three things about Jesus as C.S Lewis put it: He is either insane, a liar, or who He says He is. And to day NO ONE can prove He was insane or a liar, but we have reports by people who knew Him and spent time with Him and they tell us He was and is who He says He is. I just don’t know how people can dismiss Him. The whole story surrounding His birth and life are, if not compelling, at the very least disturbing enough even for non-believers to at least check it out for themselves. Another great post, my friend. What a great way describe what some people choose to think:
    “Ancient words now reduced to dust
    Mumbo jumbo and poppycock
    Fairytale dribble”
    Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤

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