Joan E. Jarque

Estimat David, benvingut al club els 80.

“Youth is not a period of time.

It is a state of mind, a result of the will,

a quality of the imagination, a victory of courage over timidity,

of the taste for adventure over the love of comfort.

A man doesn’t grow old because he has lived a certain number of years.

A man grows old when he deserts his ideal.

The years may wrinkle his skin,

but deserting his ideal wrinkles his soul.

Preoccupations, fears, doubts, and despair

are the enemies which slowly bow us towards earth

and turn us to dust before death.

You will remain young

as long as you are open to what is beautiful, good, and great;

receptive to the messages of other men and women,

of nature and God.

If one day you should become bitter,

pessimistic and gnawed by despair,

may God has mercy on your old man’s soul.”

Attributed to General MacArthur

Psalm 139

You have looked deep into my heart, Lord,

and you know all about me.

 You know when I am resting or when I am working,

and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.

 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,

and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.

 I can't understand all of this!

Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

Where could I go to escape

from your Spirit or from your sight?

If I were to climb up to the highest heavens,

you would be there.

If I were to dig down to the world of the dead

you would also be there.

 Suppose I had wings like the dawning day

and flew across the ocean.

Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.

 Or suppose I said, “I'll hide in the dark

until night comes to cover me over.”

But you see in the dark

because daylight and dark are all the same to you.

You are the one who put me together

inside my mother's body,

 and I praise you

because of the wonderful way you created me.

Everything you do is marvelous!

Of this I have no doubt.

 Nothing about me is hidden from you!

I was secretly woven together

deep in the earth below,

but with your own eyes

you saw my body being formed.

Even before I was born,

you had written in your book

everything I would do.

Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,

much more than I could ever imagine.

 I try to count your thoughts,

but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.

And when I awake, I will find you nearby.

 How I wish that you would kill all cruel and heartless people

and protect me from them!

They are always rebelling and speaking evil of you.

 You know I hate anyone who hates you, Lord,

and refuses to obey.

They are my enemies too, and I truly hate them.

 Look deep into my heart, God,

and find out everything I am thinking.

Don't let me follow evil ways,

but lead me in the way  that time has proven true.

A psalm by David for the music leader.  The Lord Is Always Near