In the midst of the hustle and bustle of hospital life a conversation with an aging artist by trade brings things back into focus. “Thank you for taking the time to chat with me, I know how busy you must be,” he says cheerfully, as he lays in the disenchanting hospital room. “I enjoy chatting with you,” I reply as I think to myself, ‘taking time to converse with patients is my job, right?’ He then thanks me for being part of a great hospital staff before rattling off a few stories from acquaintances of past and present. Before long he reports on how small this world has become since the days of simple times, the ‘good old days, good old boys and girls’ now seemingly long gone. Yet, with his infectious joy and optimism he adds, ‘young lady, there is no time to be selfish, angry, quarrelsome or hurt. People get so caught up in the little things and forget there is an eternal life.’ he says wholeheartedly.
We are here on earth for such a short period of time. There is no knowing when our last breath will be and our comprehension of the hereafter and eternal life is absolutely finite. Yes, we are here hoping to be a blessing wherever we go to whomever we meet each and everyday. I try and it seems on most days fail and on an off chance I manage to succeed.
The motto for life these days is to live each day as though it is your last. Carpe diem and live as though you may die tomorrow. I think some have lost the understanding of this and have interpreted it to mean - do whatever you want, however you want, whenever, and who cares about the consequences. In the middle of making the ‘most of it’ what are our motives, intentions, thoughts, and actions? Is it worth it to ‘just go for it’ and hurt others to make ourselves ‘happy’ or ‘seize the opportunity’ but cause chaos along the way? We become a selfish, boorish, brute bunch carefully hiding fragile vulnerabilities. The daily grind gets to us. It gets to me. I become focused on the routine and then soon feel empty wondering if and how my life is making a difference. How do we retain that simplicity of enjoying everyday life? Or take in a deep breath and feel, really feel that breath of life? How can we grasp and hold onto child like faith? How do we learn to appreciate the uniqueness and beauty in each individual and seize the opportunity or make the most of each encounter to encourage, uplift, and enlighten? Is it easy to put aside our insecurities and prejudices which end up trickling into our actions and behaviors?
I’ve heard courage is not the absence of fear. It seems as though to live to make a difference we have to make a deliberate decision to live courageously despite our fears and insecurities. Even if making the difference is just stepping out into someone’s life ‘holding their hand’ and listening. Living each day of this life as though it is your last is so much more meaningful when purposed with and lived through love. Life becomes excitingly refreshing particularly when learning to live a life of love through God’s eyes of grace.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans:15:13 [NLT]
“Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”Joshua 1:9 [MSG]
