Just a short rabbit trail...

 When one door closes, another door opens.  Other than that, it’s a pretty good car.

It’s not how many times you fall down.  It’s how many times you get up.

No sir.  That’s not the way a field sobriety test works.

I was reading an online post by a Christian that said her favorite verse was This too shall pass.  I kept scrolling knowing that there was no such verse.  There are many scriptures and pericopes that would support the general notion, but people sometimes just accept what sounds good as biblical.

It could be that the phrase this too shall pass might be attributed to Solomon’s court, but as an inscription on a ring or so says the Hebrew folklore.

We can understand the sentiment.  Sorrow may last for the night but joy comes in the morning would surely support that sentiment, but the problem is that we often not only attribute general sayings to the Bible, but we don’t even consider their full context.

This too shall pass gives us comfort in the storm, but it should also give us eyes to see that the joy of this day or this hour will soon be history. It’s not just the trial but the satisfaction of the moment that passes as well.

Or as Abraham Lincoln once said,” How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!”

Why is Tom rambling this morning?

When we conclude Proverbs here in a few weeks, we will do a one-week wrap-up. I will ask everyone to read a verse that we have heard read aloud for twenty-something Sundays so far. It’s Ephesians 5:15-16.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

When you think of the Bible verse that is not actually a Bible verse, think on how many opportunities to be God’s love, share his word, and help others to know life have just passed us by.

How many opportunities have we missed in an age that does not know God?

When one door closes, another door opens.  Other than that, it’s a pretty good car.

As we get closer to the end of our study in Proverbs, consider how fleeting our opportunities are to be God’s love and show love and mercy through our wisdom.  For now: Let’s get to Proverbs 26.