Here on earth we beat our brains, tire ourselves, and yet like silkworms, we die in our work. As long as we live, we live yet to see our flower fading. It is insane to be proud of that which will perish. Our joy should have a sure object and there is only one object that is sure, namely Christ. The uncertainty of worldly enjoyments are much like a flower, beautiful, in many cases, but fading.
Flowers are a wonder, an orchid can last for months, but that is all, they eventually die.
Other flowers like a night blooming cirrus are also wonders. Such is life, fading. I am sure the flowers that the groomsmen put on their tuxes at the wedding I attended this past weekend were beautiful. 10 hours later as they and I sat around a table talking, the flowers were so pathetic that they became the subject of conversation. So also are the temptations of the world, glorious in their own way, but fading.