The other side of 4000 weeks

As we approach the last months of the year, a friend remarked on how the year had flown by so quickly. This is not a new sentiment, and I’m sure many of us often feel this way as each year draws to an end or when we celebrate a birthday. It reminded me of an interesting discussion I came across that got me thinking. It was an interview with the author Oliver Burkeman, where he talked about his recent book. He points out that the average human lifespan is 4000 weeks, and encourages us to bear this in mind regularly, in order to manage our time more effectively (before it's too late).

Life seems remarkably short when calculated as matter of weeks (4000 weeks, is approximately 76 years). We are reminded that regardless of the timing, for all of us, death is inevitable.

So what does this mean? Is it all doom and gloom, or does this reminder inspire and encourage us to be more intentional about how we spend our hours and our days?

The psalmist shares a similar sentiment, reminding us of the brevity of life and to be wise in having this in mind as we live our days out:

"The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Modern life is often described as busy. We fill our lives with activity. There is never quite enough time. There is always something to do, and something we are perpetually running late for. Many of us have our identities forged in work, with weak boundaries between work and personal life. Many of us lead lives based on what others may think of us.

Would we change our priority list if we were more conscious of our limited time on this earth? Would we take that holiday we had dreamed of but never went? Would we treasure our time with family and be more present instead of constantly being on our phones? Perhaps we may slow down a bit more, enjoy life and savour the beauty of the world around us more.

We work, and we toil. Some through the harshest conditions, to put bread on the table. Some risk their lives to be able to provide for their families. Maybe for some, 4000 weeks makes no difference, it is about surviving each day as the sun comes up.

So, I find myself asking, is it as simple as this? Do we just count down the weeks? the good and the bad, until we reach the end? Many of us (if not all of us) hope to make an impact on those nearest and dearest to us. Some may even have great impact around the globe and be remembered for years to come. And yet still, I believe that for each of us there is more.

I believe that there is more on the other side of 4000 weeks. In musing on life and its purpose, Solomon sums up in Ecclesiastes 3, that God has placed eternity in the hearts of us all, and that we should do good, be joyful and enjoy our toil (fruit of our labour), as God's gift to us.

There is an eternity that lies before us. As children of God believing in the gift of Jesus Christ, there is an eternity ahead with our Lord and Father. Instead of focusing on the limited time we have here on earth, what would it look like to live regularly reminded that this world passes away, but he who does the will of God lives forever?

Do you have ‘forever’ in mind as you spend time with family and friends, go to work and even as you serve others? Has the thought of ‘forever’ caused you to pray more deeply for others and the world around you?

Does the thought of ‘forever’ push you into doing all things for the glory of God, and to focus on that which is unseen and eternal, rather than on things that are seen and transient?

As we come towards the end of the year, it is good to reflect on what has been achieved in the year, and our goals for the year ahead. It is good to have in mind that we are mortal and our time on this earth is short. But even more important, is to remember that eternity starts now, and there is eternity on the other side of ‘4000 weeks’. May this drive us in the in our walk of faith, in what we value, in our relationships with others, in the mundane and in our daily pursuits.