THERE MUST BE BOOKENDS on both sides in order to make it possible for them to remain upright. Otherwise, they fall in both directions and normally knock some other things down as they do. As important as the books are and as much knowledge as they might contain, they are dependant upon the bookends to keep them in place. These can be medical books, legal books, financial books, school textbooks, religious resource books…it doesn’t matter…they are dependant upon the bookends to keep them together and in place.People are like that! WE NEED BOOKENDS! We do not stand up very well without bookends to keep us from falling down and probably knocking someone else over, even breaking their spirit and causing them pain and suffering. We all require being held up, held in place. WE ARE TRULY CO-DEPENDENT! We do need each other. We’re different, all of us. It is called “individuality”. We all have different information (called talent and experience) that to the other books are important.
There is something else interesting about the books between the bookends. Everything in those books may not be the best information. Bad things happen! The human element is flawed…every one of us. And, some of what is in the books is of no real interest or value to us, but it is there. THINGS HAPPEN and everything that happens over the course of a person’s life isn’t good or beneficial. We would like to go back and undo some of the painful history in the history book (journal) of our life, for instance. We would all like to undo the hurt that we have caused others, even something as seemingly trivial as hurtful words and/or the denial of the love and affection that we did not receive. THE JOURNAL OF OUR LIFE IS BEING WRITTEN EVERY DAY! We should all be thankful that we have others in the library of life who stand side by side with us to help hold us in place when we fail, or when discouragement drives us to quit.
What about the bookmarks? From the Christian perspective (and this is really important) WE HAVE THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA AS THE BOOKENDS TO THE RECORD OF OUR LIFE…THE VOLUMES WE HAVE WRITTEN BY OUR THOUGHTS AN DEEDS. His name is JESUS! We cannot eradicate the bad things in the book of our earthly life…BUT HE CAN…and that is what really matters most. WHAT HE FORGIVES HE FORGETS…never to remember it against us anymore. Maybe the big challenge is to strive with every ounce of energy we have to be like Jesus and also FORGIVE and FORGET.
I close with the thought that we can always count on “Our Bookends” being there for us, holding us up, cleansing when called upon, and making it possible for us to endure to the end and ultimately be saved. Think on these things! -- Dr. Jerry A. Jones