Weekend Worship—Does How I Spend My Time Truly Reflect What I View as Important?

A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. Ecclesiastes 3:2

I love exploring old cemeteries

This weekend we spent time exploring old churchyards, and the cemeteries that populate them, in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. I was fascinated with the bits and pieces of life hinted at on the carved tombstones. I love history, but this went even deeper.

It made me consider the hectic pace of life, and the things I might be missing.

As we wandered through these memorial grounds, I wanted to know why families chose the markers they did. Some were plain, some ornate, others almost works of art. Was the tombstone chosen based on how much those left behind had to spend, or was it some commentary on how well the deceased had been loved? Truthfully, it was probably a multiple of factors, but I found myself oddly comforted as I walked through these peaceful places.

I was reminded of how the things I find so important on a day-to-day basis lose relevance in the context of eternity. The petty worries and concerns settle into the right perspective when I view them from God’s viewpoint.

They remind me to treasure the relationships I have now

Even more than that, this walk through time reminded me of how briefly we sometimes have those we love. It was a gentle reminder to treasure the relationships I’ve been so blessed with. So as I begin a new week, I’m choosing to reprioritize my time, placing less emphasis on things, and more on those who are truly important to me.

Here are a few more photos I took. As you take a virtual stroll through these weathered stone monuments, I invite you to reconsider your own priorities.