I have now calculated that there is not enough life left for me in this world to read all the books on my shelf. Actually, I think I passed that point years ago, but have been in denial, so that I could still keep on buying them. But obviously my reality has been checked, for seeing on a recent visit to the bookstore the Complete Works of John Bunyan on the shelf, the struggle to resist their siren call was easier to handle.

I guess it means that I must have reached that grounded grasshopper moment. I’ve long loved Solomon’s depiction of aging in the twelfth chapter of his Ecclesiastes. It’s a witty picture of faculties in decline, and one of his rich metaphors is this: “When the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire is no longer stirred.” In other words, there’s honey for the taking, but not the power to gather it in.

Which is probably a good thing, for Solomon earlier observes that the eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. And were there no dint in the appetite, the purchase of books would remain unchecked. I’m sure that’s true for many areas of life – in food, in clothing, in sex, in sightseeing, in learning, in sports and recreation. Our Maker is good to ground the grasshopper, so that He can bring us to that place where the eye can be healed and the ear truly satisfied.