A Tale That is Told

   
    A while ago when I was reading my Bible, I came across the verse in Psalms 90 where it says "We spend our years as a tale that is told". (Psalms 90:9 b)
    I understand that in the passage here it is using the analogy of 'a tale that is told' to show how short our lives are--how soon it is over. However, as a writer, I couldn't help but be struck by it in a little different light. I began thinking about how on the Judgement day when God is going to look at our lives, he's going to see in each of us a separate history--a unique story of our life. At that point when everything is brought before our Judge, will we find that our 'tale' is honouring God?
     It made me wonder how much I actually thought about how I spent my years. So many times we go through with daily routines, getting in the grind of "normal". We get used to the way things are and are complacent. We take things for granted. Our light for Jesus grows dim--not because we don't want to shine for Him, but because we just get so wrapped up in all the little unimportant things that we don't spend sufficient time working for the Lord or letting our flame grow. Unless we're constantly stoking that fire, it will go out.
     In stories, there's always the inciting incident to kick the whole thing off. Even if you aren't a writer, you will understand this just from reading books. Then there're various struggles, setbacks, smaller victories etc along the way until you reach the main climax--after which point the story will usually wind down into a conclusion. That's just a very basic plot structure, but I think it's quite applicable to life. Our inciting incident as Christians is when we turn to Jesus and ask Him to save us and forgive us. During our walk as a Believer, we'll run into difficult times, but we'll also have wonderful triumphs when we let God work through us. The climax is obviously in the future, as is the conclusion, so let's focus now on the main part of the story--the part after the inciting incident.
    As a writer, I know that people don't like to read books where the character is doing nothing, or lives in complacency. Now I'm not saying that we should worry what people think about how we live, but we have an even greater and all-knowing audience--and that is God. It made me wonder--is my life really being spent as a tale that is told? Is God happy with the story of my life? Or is He disappointed in the poor choices, bland living, and disregard for sinners in need of a Saviour?
    Your life is writing a story. Are you spending your years as a tale that is told?

--Victoria M.