Would you live any differently?
My dad died in November and we recently had his birthday. It made me reflective.
As I said at the time (click here to read what I said at his funeral), it’s not just the sick who are “terminal.” We’re allterminal. We’re all going to die.
But what if we knew the exact day that was going to happen?
My dad was hoping to make it to 2015. He wanted to celebrate one last Christmas. He wanted to travel to South Carolina to attend Jack and Amanda’s wedding. And despite his vanquished strength, I’m sure he wanted to weave down a majestic river with mom and the grand-kids one last time. And I’m as sure as the sun he wanted to push our precious Anna again in her swing.
But he didn’t make it that long. For him, the bell tolled on November 16.
His time was up. And yours will be too.
But when?
None of us know the day we will leave this earth. Psalm 139 says, “Every day of my life was recorded in your book.” It gives you the impression that Someone knows your due date. (It’s just not you.)
It begs the question: If you knew the day you were going to die, would you live any differently?
I imagine you wouldn’t go in to work. You probably wouldn’t pay phone bill. But I’m not thinking about those kinds of things.
I’m thinking bigger:
- What kind of character would you have?
- What would be your soul-footprint on the world?
It’s helpful to think of the end and work backwards. When others look back over your days with a wide-angled lens, what moving picture will emerge?
Were (and are) you perfect? Of course not. Were (and are) there parts of your life that needed tweaking—or even a major renovation? Of course.
But did you strive to be a person of authenticity? Of faith? Of forgiveness? Of generosity? Think day-to-day.
It’s definitely a work in progress for all of us. Certainly for me! But I truly think we often operate with an “I’ll-live-forever” attitude. And because of that, we put off crafting the life and self we actually want. There’s nothing like busyness to distract us from the important.
Very truly, you’re only as healthy as you are today. And you’re only as dedicated to who you want to be as you are today.
"You're only as dedicated to who you want to be as you are today"
— Matthew Ruttan (@MatthewRuttan) April 14, 2015
The bell could toll for you tomorrow. It could be the day after that. Whenever it is, here’s the key: Be ready. I have some of Jesus’ words in a picture frame. They greet me every day: “Keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come” (Mark 13:35).
Here’s the key question: What’s the smart thing to do today, to get you to the tomorrow you dream of?
That’s a big question, and it may require some life change. Some of it may be difficult. But whoever said that the right thing was the easy thing?
What is your next best step?
- Toward forgiving someone?
- Toward growing a healthier lifestyle?
- Toward getting into a right relationship with God?
- Toward being the role model you always wished you had?
- Toward leaving a legacy of grace and truth?
Maybe you’ll die of cancer like my dad. Maybe you’ll have a heart attack. Maybe your death will be long and painful. Maybe it will come suddenly. But in all likelihood, people won’t remember how you died as much as how you lived. Today.
What’s the smart thing to do today, to get you to the tomorrow you dream of?
At the end of my dad’s funeral I said this: “I am thankful that the approach of his death actually brought more life into the world, not less.”
Will the same be true for you? Today?
Of course, we don’t know the exact day we’re going to die. There’s no way of knowing. But in a sense, there is. It will be a day like today. The earth will turn, people will scurry to and fro doing a thousand things, and relationships will ebb and flow. And normal people like you and me will make choices about the life and world they are helping create.
In the end, we’re all terminal. So have courage—and bring your death into view. And let your death inspire your dreams.
But remember: You can’t live your dream if you don’t have one.
You can't #live your #dream if you don't have one.
— Matthew Ruttan (@MatthewRuttan) January 5, 2015
