you remember that we are nothing but dust

As tenderly as parents treat their children,
that's how tenderly you treat your worshipers, Adonai!
For you know what we are made of -
you remember that we are nothing but dust.
Psalm 103:13-14

Sometimes I stumble across passages and wonder about the transition from line to line in Scripture and am baffled. God treats us tenderly, but guess what, God also remembers that you are mortal and you can exist one day - and then not the next. So, just remember that kids!

But I wonder:
Does the Psalmist record this to tell us God is a punisher?
Does the Psalmist record this to say that God remembers everything we do and holds us accountable? or
Does the Psalmist record this to remind us that our lives on earth are short and we need to pay attention to what exactly we're doing while we are here?

I think the answer is simple -
1. No
2. Yes
3. Mostly DEFINITELY YES! (channeling the upcoming Christmas season)

It's the third point that matters to me today (don't worry, I do think the whole Psalm matters).

Had I not thought deeply about the end of my earthly body a couple of weeks ago, it might be a different story. I might still be on the path of distraction - which is my biggest weakness. We, humans, are masters of distraction. I think God is trying to say to us - "hey, wake up! You say, you want to do all these things for me, but you haven't really tried hearing me. You haven't listened - you think you're infused by the Spirit, but really you're distracting yourself, making yourself out to be someone who says they care (even if deep down you know you do), but really you haven't listened for my voice."

Geez God - be a jerk about it! But you're right, I needed that slap in the face. Ask yourself, even if you don't believe in God, why are you doing what you're doing? Is it for yourself, or is it because you've listened deeply to the consciousness of the Universe? Don't know how to answer that? Ask it this way - do you feel whole? Or do you fill in the empty spaces with those things you think will make you whole? Are you passing through life?

Remember, you're dust - while I believe the soul has no beginning or end, this time on earth does.
Stop and listen from time to time - the Universe speaks eternally.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!