Most things come and go, only some things are eternal

"All flesh is grass,and all their glory like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So then, the people is the grass. Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever." Things in life to which I pay a lot of attention will be gone someday. My own body is in a state of gradual decline no matter how hard I try to fight off the aging process. Even my marriage is temporary - someday (I hope not anytime soon) one of us will die and the remaining spouse will be single again. I spend a lot of time at Kaiser in a job that I love but will someday retire from. I have a full-time title but I'm really a temp! So what are some of the things that are permanent? According to scripture, God's word "stands forever." That certainly seems to be the case. Many of the great religious books were written thousands of years ago and they are still going strong influencing generation after generation. But is there anything else that is permanent? I read in the paper today the depressing story of a an aide at my son's old catholic school in Hayward - she was arrested for sexually abusing a 14-yr old boy over a 2 yr period. I knew her, she also took care of Frankie and Dante when they were in the after school program. Whatever good she may have done in the past, she could very well be remembered for this incident. Maybe reputations are permanent - and if not, they sure take a long time to change and build up again once tarnished. How do I want to be remembered long after my body has "withered?" What am I doing today that will last long after I pass? How will I influence future generations? As I'm writing this, I'm rethinking just how important it is to be a good father for Frankie and Dante. The influence that I have on them for the short time that they are under my care will trickle down to their children and their children's children. Offering up my opinions and ideas at work can and do result in department changes that might be carried forward for a long time. Getting others on board for a monthly prayer service at church is a ritual that could continue well after I'm gone. As much as I like instant gratification, I am at my best when I think long-term: decades, lifetimes, generations.