"Daily Bookends"

 

“Daily Bookends”

 

The use of bookends goes back several centuries to the invention of the printing press in 1453 and the publication of books as we know them today. They were very costly in the 15^th century so it was primarily the well-to-do who purchased them. To hold them in place bookends became popular but they were mostly decorative to display the owners’ wealth. But in 1877 William Barnard patented one that was made of sheet metal and L-shaped so the books were kept from falling over. Because of their practicality and low cost they became commonplace in homes and libraries.

Gradually the term became used symbolically for beginnings and endings, setting parameters and framing periods of significant events. For example, in the Northeast Memorial Day and Labor Day were described as the “bookends” of the summer vacation season. It also describes a poker hand of an ace and ten as the high and low cards. And President Obama once said that his upcoming “State of the Union” address would be a “bookend” to a previous speech. And on TV crime shows a bookend is a frequent murder weapon.

While reading and journaling in the Psalms earlier this year I discovered “daily bookends”. In Psalm 5:3 (NLT) David writes, “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” So his day began with prayer. And in Psalm 4 (NASB) he says, “Be gracious to me and hear my prayer…In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” (Verses 1,8). As his day had begun in fellowship with God it ended in the same way. So for him prayer formed the “bookends” for each day. I had to ask myself, “What’s my first thought and action at the start of each new day and what are they at its close?” And what about the time between our waking up and drifting into dreamland? Paul’s counsel is to “…pray continually….” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), “…keep on praying….” (Ephesians 6:18) and “Be…faithful in prayer….” (Romans 12:12). In other words, we’re to maintain and attitude of prayer at all times. So let’s fill the time between the “bookends” of each day in communication with our Lord.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan