Sadness Refines

Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
A good reputation

is more valuable

than costly perfume.

And the day you die is better

than the day you are born.

Better to spend your time

at funerals than at parties.

After all,

everyone dies —

so the living

should take this to heart.

Sorrow

is better than laughter,

for sadness

has a refining influence on us.

A wise person

thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only

about having a good time.

Battered Blossom
Offenburg, Germany

City Garden

May 2013