The Good News Bible says ¹⁴ You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. Our neighbours had a barbecue on Monday. We saw the smoke. The cooking smelt delicious. We were going to eat bread and cheese at the time though that is not a problem in this country where there is a great choice of breads and cheeses. In fact too much of a choice. However whilst the barbecue was looking our washing was drying, outside, on the line in the sun- and the smoke.

Now even a few days later we have an olfactory reminder of the neighbour's lunch. Maybe a puff of smoke quickly vanishes but it's effects can linger. Often I mention the people who have effected me and my growth but I think here, (this passage) it is more important to consider the effect that we have on those around us.