How Much Have I Lived?

March 25, 2012

7:00 p.m.

As I write these words….

To the year,

To the month,

To the day,

Even to the hour,

I am the very age my father was when he died. 

55 years, 26 days, cerebral hemorrhage at 6:30 p.m.,  pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m.

I hesitate to say anything.  This moment feels very sacred to me. 

But these things I know and want to share. 

Life is a miracle and a mystery.  I can’t begin to fathom why one person lives to be one hundred and another person lives half as long.  But I can see that the most important issue about your life and mine is not how long we live, but how much we live.  The abundant life that Jesus offers has nothing to do with life span and everything to do with making the most of God-given opportunities to be alive: 

To speak a kind word

To stand up for what is right

To break the cycle of revenge and retaliation

To pray

To care about someone enough to cry over them

To pick yourself up from where you’ve fallen and try again

To forgive

To apologize

To be a friend who loves at all times

To share what you have

To love enough to be tough

To name the beautiful things you see in people and in creation

To say “I believe”

To begin again.

If my life ended today, at 55 years and 26 days, as did my father’s,

How much have I lived?

RDV