I remember once being so sick with a sinus infection that it was all I could do to get my older kids off to school before I’d collapse on the bed again, with the TV on to entertain the youngest child, trying to gather my strength to make lunch in a couple of hours. It didn’t last long, but for a time I knew that I could only do the very most basic, necessary things. I literally had no energy to spare for anything but caring for my children’s most basic needs.
It is strange how a near-death experience, a devastating illness, the death of a loved one, a job loss or a natural disaster will change your focus, at least for a time. Suddenly, you pare your life down to what is most important. More often than not, you slow down either to enjoy the remaining moments or because the illness or injury requires that you do.
What things in life bring you the most joy? What things give you the most satisfaction? When asked these questions, people routinely list the simple things in life – those that don’t really cost anything – like walks in the woods, hearing their children laugh, eating with friends and even enjoying the company of a beloved pet.
Why do we humans need some external force to propel us to what should be the core focuses of our lives any way? One reason could be that we have come to consider being busy as a badge of honor. We are a busy people here in the USA.
But could it also be that we have forgotten what David said in Psalm 39:4-5 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand…” (New Living Translation)
The truth is, we are all dying – even if you have just received a clean bill of health from your doctor. If it were not for the plan of God and the sacrifice of Christ, that would be the end of it. We can be thankful there is more after this life has ended.
We should also be thankful for the time we have in this life – here on earth, as human beings. This life isn’t just to be endured through gritted teeth. There is a lot of joy to be gained, if we use our time wisely, knowing that in this life, time is finite resource.
Life isn’t always good. Bad things happen. But we don’t have to be diagnosed with cancer in order to focus on the most important things in life.
Why not reconcile with a long, lost friend now and enjoy some quality time? Why not invest more time playing with your kids, use some time to really talk your mate, spend time gazing at the stars and contemplating the universe now? If these things are the kinds of activities to which we assign the highest value (and they are), if they are the things that bring us the greatest sense of satisfaction (they are), if they are the things we would do if we had six months to live (that is what we say), why aren’t we doing them now?
Why wait for some external force to realign your priorities? We have “all the time in the world.” It just isn’t enough time that we can waste it on things that don’t matter. Your days are numbered and, most likely, you don’t know when your number of days will be up. So, spend the time of your life wisely.
Love, Nancy
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