"you might not finish this chapter".......hmmmm....interesting title for a chapter....what's it suppposed to mean? I asked myself.

It means that at any given time, every single one of us will meet one-on-one with death, be it sudden and unexpected, or drawn-out and anticipated for months or years. Either way you look at it, we're all going to die.

It's a morbid thought that most of us don't really like to think about. The funny thing is, we'd rather spend our days consumed with our living. Even consumed so much that if we're honest, we spend entirely too much time worrying and stressing about what the day is going to bring....should bring....what if it doesn't bring.....what will tomorrow bring??? Instead of shining for Jesus, and bringing God glory in everything we do, we almost scare others away with our complaining, and arguing, and worrying, and stressing, and looking as if our lives are more out-of-control because  we're spinning so fast.

About two years ago, Bruce's granny died at the full-life age of 92. She's one of the few people I've ever really heard say "It's my time and I want to go to be with the Lord....I'm tired of being down here." And although the process of seeing her go through the highs and lows in the hospital were hard for all of us, her passing away and funeral were one of the most peaceful celebrations of life that I've ever had the honor of attending. It's something quite different when you've walked with the Lord for as long as she had. I vividly remember her telling every person she came into contact with how "Every day was a pure blessing and that she's so proud of how her entire family is serving the Lord.....I know I'm blessed." she'd say.

One year ago, a 40 year old mother of two boys...long time member at our church....Christian counselor.....dating a fine Christian man and looking forward to beginning a new life with him.....was sun-bathing in her back yard. She had been experiencing migraines for quite some time and was on medication for it. On that day, she had upped her dose a little because of the intensity of the pain. That, crossed with not drinking enough water and being out for an extended period of time in the sun (she'd fallen asleep), brought her sad and unexpected death. I think they said she had a cardiac arrest. It was a devastating day in the life of our church. And although we knew she was with the Lord, and there was no doubt in our minds, for some, there was no fighting the feelings of resentment. Lord, how could you take her now? She had such a promising future and she touched the lives of so many people in our church and community with her gift of counseling. She was a bright light in our lives.

Only a short seven months ago, one of the boys in my Cub Scout den and his older brother, lost their mom in a fatal car accident. Brett and Jessica were driving down the same road they drove down every other day. They were on their way over to his parents to pick up the boys. It was raining and the roads were a little slippery. They came up to a curve, lost control of the car, and crashed into the entrance of a subdivision. Brett lost his wife. It was so sad, and still is, to know that this man and his two sons would be beginning a whole new chapter of their lives that they didn't choose....with one less loved one in their midst. You could tell that Jessica was loved much and had an impact on the lives of many people in her community and synagogue. She loved to volunteer for different organizations. As a matter of fact, she used to be the den leader for our den before I was. This fall we will be planting a tree over at the school in her memory....something to remind the kids of a faithful servant that once walked the halls of their school.

So why are we talking about all this??  Frederick Buechner wrote, "Intellectually, we all knw that we will die, but we do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go on forever."  We tend to go about our day more interested in just getting through it. Francis talks about how we tend to go about our day subconsciously justifying our stress and worry.

"When I am consumed by my problems -- stressed out about my life, my family, and my job -- I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsiblities.....Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control."

I know what this means. I know first hand what it's like to allow a week  to pass by as a blur because I'm so caught up in what needs to get done. I'm ashamed to look back and think about how many times I yelled at the kids, or judged a stranger, or argued with my husband. I'm ashamed when I realize that my so-called divine light, was nothing more than a dull, 10 volt glow. Did I live to bring glory to God in every move I made (as the song goes)? Were my actions and words something I know brought someone closer to knowing Jesus? I don't think so.

Francis says.....and this is good...that 

 "The point of your life is to point to Him."

I started something new this flag football season with my son Connor. I've started asking him before each game, "Who are you playing for?"  The first time I asked him this he answered with all the "right answers"....for you and daddy....for the coach....for my teammates.  But, when I told him what the Bible said in First Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.", his answer has changed significantly.