IF DEATH TERRIFIES YOU— KEEP READING.
‘Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction.’ Psalms 90:12
From time to time, I like to visit cemetery's. It’s a dark and twisted hole that I like to climb into. I like to imagine who and what all these deceased people did while on Earth. I wonder how many lived a life they were proud of? I wonder how many wish they lived differently. I wonder how many were ready when death came to their door?
With Covid-19 upon us, I’m reading more about death than ever before. Every day, thousands are dying. Earlier than they would have liked.
I guess, reading about it is one thing. The question I ask myself is — “am I prepared to die?” Or, “am I living the life I want to live?”
When I was a teenager living in Chicago, a friend of the family lost their son in a tragic car accident. Their child literally flew out the window — dead. I can remember playing with their son — he was such a cute kid. Their family was super close with ours — so, it was really gut wrenching.
Even remembering this moment brings so much pain. To see a child die, their whole life dissolved — F’N AWFUL.
During this time, I was close with the dad and would see them at church or family parties. We always chatted about sports and all sorts of cool stuff. He was just a good dude. A dad you wished you had.
Many months later, I remember talking with the dad. He brought up his sons death and said something to me I never forgot. He said, “the Bible tells us to number our days. And, as a parent, you need to know that sometimes life doesn’t work out, and that’s ok. But you also need to imagine what it would be like without them.”
He was telling me to imagine how YOU would feel if your loved ones died. And, are you prepared for that? Have you truly NUMBERED your days.
He shared with me Psalms 90:12 and how he had to understand what numbering days really looks like. It seemed really f’d up and distorted — but, that is the truth about life sometimes.
To this day, I REALLY TRY NOT to take my family or kids for granted. And, if you asked me if I ever imagined them not being with us — yes, yes I have.
That may seem really f’d up — but for me, I see everything I have as a blessing with sometimes an expiration date. Nothing is ever as it seems. And, as the Bible says — “our days our numbered”. You can either believe it or pretend it doesn’t exist.
Life is a vapor — and are you prepared?
“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.” — Tony Robbins
We are all motivated by pain and pleasure. Part of the reason I like to visit cemetery’s from time is to remind myself of the pain of letting my hopes and dreams die.
As I walk past the tombstones — I wonder, how many dreams have died?
How many promises were left unkept?
How many ideas were never actualized?
How many times love was lost due to busy-ness?
How many times sons forgot to tell their dad — “I Love You”?
How many times daughters were left mad at their mothers?
How many times they let their confidence die?
How many times they just “GAVE UP”.
That is bone chilling to me. As I walk and read the names on those tombstones, I am walking amidst the ghosts of unfinished lives.
I never want to live or not be prepared for that moment. And, I would hate for you to be unprepared as well.
As f’d up as it is to think about death — are you prepared? Are you still breathing life into your dreams?
That’s my hope and prayer for all of us. We view death as motivation. Let it inspire us all. Let us learn from those who may have given up. Let us live for others who could not during their time.
“Don’t die old — die empty.” — Myles Munroe
Let’s pray:
Jesus, life is f’d up. It hurts and is painful. Help me to see that my life is a blessing. What I have and do matters. I want to live life to the fullest. I want to die empty — using everything you gave me.
