On the day I die the world will be busy.
All the important appointments I made will be broken. The “new-to-North Pointe”-er wanting to become connected will be left sitting at Starbucks wondering why.
If I were still alive I’d feel embarrassed. So embarrassed.
The calendar that organized so many of my days will now be irrelevant to me.
My messy desk that haunted so much of my conscious thought will finally be cleared.
Material things I guarded will be left in the hands of others to care for. Or sell. Or discard. Jocelyn gets it all.
All my incoming emails, SLACK, Instagrams, texts and calls will go ignored.
The ambition behind my unfinished posts, tweets, messages, articles and books will be unrequited.
Every superficial worry will fade away.
The reputation I once attended to will be of little concern anymore.
My critics words will now have zero influence.
All my small and large anxieties will be rendered powerless.
Life’s unfairness, complexities, conundrums, and pain will be seen from the topside of life’s patchwork quilt.
The incredible mysteries about death will finally be clarified in a way that they could never be while I lived.
These things will certainly all be true on the day I die.
Morbid?
Perhaps.
I’ve just gone through three funerals in twenty-four hours on a holiday weekend. A 19 year old, a 53 year old and an 89 year old. Two were sudden deaths.
My day will come.
One More Thing
For as much as will happen on that day, one more thing will happen.
On the day I die, the few people who really know and truly love me will cry.
They will feel loss.
And on that day, more than anything in the world they will want more time with me.
One commonality for each grieving family I serve is a wish for more time. One last conversation. A kiss. An embrace.
And so knowing this, I force myself to remember that my time with family and friends is finite. Evaporating. Precious.
I’ll Do My Best Not To Waste It
I’ll try not to squander a priceless moment worrying about all the things that are either not my concern or beyond my control.
Chasing after the wind keeps you from life even as you live.
Other things rob you of time with those who love you and want only to share life with you.
It’s easy to waste so much daylight in the days before you die.
Don’t let your life be stolen by the bill of sale on all that you’ve been led to believe matters.
On the day you die, the fact is that much of it simply won’t. Matter.
Hug hugely.
Live freely.
Kiss without fear.
A shining life for the one and only eternal God and Savior.
APPLICATION: What do you think? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.
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Profound beyond words, my thoughts exactly. How do we convince others of this?
Now that is a good recipe for real living! Thanks for sharing Pastor Bob.
It is difficult to talk about death, especially our own. Your article has challenged me to be careful how I value people, time and material things. The section under “I’ll Do My Best Not To Waste It” was especially meaningful to me. I need to remind myself of these things on a regular basis so I don’t lose perspective. Thanks for sharing this.
WOW! HOW TRUE. EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE SIT AND CONTEMPLATE THE REALITY OF LOOSING ONE AND WE TRY TO LIVE OUR LIFE LOVING ALL, WE CAN NEVER APPRECIATE TOTALLY WHAT WE WILL BE LOOSING WHEN SOME ONE DIES. IT ALSO PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW QUICKLY EVERYTHING WE WERE BUSY DOING WHEN WE ARE HERE IS CONSIDERED “OH WELL, THAT ISN’T NEEDED ANYMORE” WHEN WE DIE.
I hope the day I die doesn’t find me waiting. I’ve waited far too often in life. I’ve waited for the mundane, the exciting, and the stressful. Waiting is one letter away from wasting. Wasting energy, time, and resources highjacks my life. I pray my day finds me in the middle, in the middle of the something meaningful, in the middle of something lovely.
Just went and hugged my son.
Here’s praying that many more beautiful moments are in store for you Pastor Bob.
There will be some of us to welcome you but no need to hurry as it isnt in your time . Make your time count here but i believe you already do.
Well said Pastor Bob
Thank you Pastor Bob for this. It’s so true, nothing will matter once we die. Will cherish the life left for me on this earth. Loving more, laughing more and doing more for others. All glory to God. Love you Pastor Bob. You are such an inspiration to me. Blessed to have you as my pastor.
Thank you Mabel for reading and your comments. That means a lot to me. And the feeling is mutual.
Thank you Rhonda!
Your son may not have understood the meaning behind the hug but I’m sure he appreciated it. Thank you Adena.
Yes, making the time, each day. Today matters.
So true. Thank you Loretta.
You are welcome. I’m glad it was meaningful, Terry.
Thank you Ken. Good to count you as a friend.
Thank you Irene.
Wow…beautifully written Pastor Bob. So powerful and really made me re-evaluate things. Thank you!
thanks, for reminding us to use our time wisely because we never know when our time will come.