Carpe Diem
After a week full of chaos and pandemonium following my grandma’s passing, I finally have found a moment to sit down and write again. As I’m sure you can imagine, this week has given me a lot to think about. I’ve contemplated death over and over again. I will admit it scares me a little. I’m not afraid of where I’ll end up as I am quite confident in my salvation. What I fear is how I will die. I have a rather low pain tolerance and I am easily anxious, thus prompting my mind’s discontent with the subject.
This, however, is not the purpose of why I write to you. My purpose is to talk about life.
Oddly enough, this week has, in fact, sparked much thought about life and just how we spend this precious time we’re given. I, for one, don’t want to get to the end of my life and wish I had done anything differently. As I contemplate the short time I have here, Paul’s words in Philippians 1:20-24 keep coming to mind:
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
As humans, it is easy to get wrapped up in the mundane busyness of life – a snare I find myself falling into more than I’d like to admit. But when I read these words, I’m reminded of my purpose here on earth. As Christians, life holds invaluable purpose and meaning – an incredible honor which brings innumerable responsibilities. It is our job, our mission to share the Gospel with those around us – to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20). This concept is humbling to me. To know my life is part of such an incredible mission is truly overwhelming. But this knowledge also pushes me – I strive to know God more so I can be everything he’s created me to be, bringing glory to him and blessing to those around me.
Paul’s message holds more blessing than just a purpose-filled life here on earth for those of us committed to Christ. He also shares his hope and excitement at the prospect of spending eternity with Jesus. Death isn’t scary when Jesus is our focus. In reality, death for Christians is not death at all. It is just a passage from this life to even more life – a new life filled with immeasurable blessing and eternal joy. God promises in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived what God has in store for those who love him.” No matter how wonderful we imagine eternity with Jesus to be, reality will always trump our imagination. That is incredible.
So while we wait (patiently…) for our glorious eternity with Jesus, we must remember to use our time wisely. In Isaiah 40:6-7, scripture says, “…people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people.” And in James 4:14, it is written that life is like the morning fog, “it is here a little while, then it’s gone.” Our time on earth is short. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. All we are guaranteed is right now so take right now and make it great. Use what you have to bring glory to God. Seize the day. Live to your fullest potential. Serve the Lord. Be a witness – be a blessing. And when you leave this world and meet your maker, he will look at you with love and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
One Life To Love
33Miles
He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand
Until he started praying for, a second chance
If he could only do it all again
He’d trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk
For all he missed
He tells his wife “I wish that this moment in this room was not me dying, but just spending a little time with you.”
Chorus:
You only get just one time around
You only get one shot at this
One chance, to find out
The one thing that you don’t wanna miss
One day when it’s all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough, this
One ride, one try, one life…
To love….
She never thought she cared so much about those little hands
That held on tight the day she left
‘Til she was scared to death
Sitting all alone on a hotel bed, the end of the road
The sun had set on her big plans
To feel young again
She picks up the phone, dials the number, hears that little voice
That’s haunted every single mile, since she made that choice
Chorus
Wow Lauren… that is my most favorite verse in the whole Bible. I feel so close to you when I read this!!!
Hey, I read your blog now. kudos to me right? I liked this post, death is a constant here and it comes up a lot. I agree with you in that I fear pain, i think everyone does. But death doesn’t really bother me. Because of my salvation i view death as little more than a transition, and a good one at that. Not that I don’t like life, but then again, it’s not about me anyways.