Check out this Sonnet by Michelangelo:
The course of my life has brought me now
Through a stormy sea, in a frail ship,
To the common port where, landing
We account for every deed, wretched or holy.
So that finally I see
How wrong the fond illusion was
That made art my idol and my King,
Leading me to want what harmed me.
My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy
What sense have they now that I approach two deaths
The first of which I know is sure, the second threatening.
Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm
My soul turned to that divine Love
Who to embrace us, opened His arms upon the cross.
-On the Brink of Death, To Giorgio Vasari, Sonnet LXV
WOW.
This reminds me to think of life in reverse. It may seem weird, but looking at the end - or starting with the end in mind - can give us perspective.
When we think (like Michelangelo did here) from the perspective of death, suddenly many things we chase after seem insignificant and deceptive.
- Things that we thought would make us happy.
- Things that we made our idols and worshiped with our time and resources.
- Things that gave us the illusion that we are the Captain of our own ship.
- Things that soothe us momentarily, but turn into bondage.
Even good things can turn into an idol of our own design. We end up worshiping the created rather than the Creator. Even Michelangelo confessed this truth. While his art was a fantastic gift and gift to the world, God's gift was greater.
The beauty of Love Divine is this: God Himself embraced us when He "opened His arms upon the cross."
Let us not wait until death to embrace Love Divine in return.
May we throw aside idols and our "fond illusions" while we can.
Because at the end of our lives, we will see with our own eyes that the beauty of Love Divine is more awesome, more precious, than anything we've ever experienced before.
