Do you know the exact moment when your life will end? Of course not. None of us do. Driving to an appointment the other morning with the radio on, there was a report of an accident on a nearby freeway. Having lived around several major cities, seeing accidents and hearing about them was not unusual. As I drove to my appointment, the traffic report came on notifying listeners of an accident that, sadly, included a fatality.
As the announcer gave his report, it struck me that he read it no differently than he would reading the winners of yesterday’s football games. I realize he has no connection to the person that died, and that people die in traffic accidents every day. For someone, however, that fatality was their parent, their sibling, an aunt or uncle, a friend. To someone, that person was important and now they are gone. In the blink of an eye, a life has ended and for some family, life will never be the same.
As for the person who was killed, I doubt that as they dressed for work, ate breakfast, and talked with their family, it ever occurred to them that within the hour, their life would come to an end. What would they have done differently had they known? Would they have hugged their family a little longer? Would they have listened a little more intently to the conversation? If they used sharp words that morning, would they have thought twice about it?
If you knew you were going to die in the next hour, what would you do differently?
Most of us live our lives as if tomorrow is guaranteed. We plan vacations months in advance. We diligently save for retirement, and we take those we love for granted. Yet, consider the following. My best friend was hit by a car and killed when she was just six years old. My neighbor drowned at thirteen. My cousin went into the hospital for a routine procedure at 26 and never came home. One of my classmates was killed in a diving accident at 20. My uncle died at 57, another at 60. My own father was just 60 years old when he passed away.
Even when people we care for and love are in their 70’s and 80’s, or even 90’s, we still tend to take it for granted they will be here with us tomorrow. Reality tells us a different story. We don’t know when those we love will breathe their last breath or when we, ourselves, will breathe ours. Only God knows so….
Just for today, won’t you hug your family a little tighter, overlook that thing they do you find annoying, forgive the unforgiveable, and live each moment today as if it may be your last.
May your moments be precious, and your days blessed.
– PSG –
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