Where There’s Life, There’s Hope

Anyone who is among the living has hope–even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!*

It’s one of those statements of colorful pithiness that puts everything into perspective. I’m reminded of another, oft repeated by an old Irish friend, “Cheer up; you’ll soon be dead!”

How could one not be cheered by such bright advice on a Monday morning?

And about these metaphors; which do you identify with, the dog or the lion?

The lion here is the king of beasts, much revered, feared by all and fearing none. But the dog implied is not exactly the “best in show.” Rather this is the mangy, cowering, rib-showing, scrap-eating beast of shadows that no one owns and everyone kicks. It’s a contrast between the king and the cur. There is no comparison . . . except that one’s alive and one is dead.

Now which would you rather be?

For the dead it’s all over; for the living there’s still hope.

And hope keeps life alive.

You may be in debt, but you’re alive; you may come out of it.

You may be working a job you don’t love, but you’re alive; it may change.

You may be suffering from any number of ills, misfortunes, or runs of bad luck. But you’re still alive; there’s always hope.

Hope keeps life alive.

And being alive is such a precious thing that even the cur will fight (to the death) to keep it.

Too late for that for the lion.

So, even if you’ve only scraps of bread,
remember the words from that Irish head:
Cheer up [you dog],
you’ll soon be dead.

Arf!

___________________

*Ecclesiastes 9:4

Next: A Word about Addiction–Life’s Wrecker. Coming Thursday.