“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into a furnace of fire; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Mt 13:41-42).
Count the frail and fragrant blossoms spring has scattered through the trees;
Count the endless crashing billows sparkling on the planet’s seas;
Count the lightly flickering shadows in each autumn forest glade;
Count the falling feathery snowflakes, icy gems by winter made;
Count the myriad blades that glitter early in the morning dew;
Count the grains of sand in deserts under noontide’s vault of blue;
Count the notes that wood birds warble in the evening’s fading light;
Count the stars that gleam and twinkle in the velvet black of night…
When the counting all is done, scarce eternity’s begun!
Hearer, pause: Where will you be during your eternity? —Anon.