Death isn't usually something you think aout too much as a young person. It seems like a distant thing.. something you don't have to think about for years to come, and maybe not even then. I think we're all sometimes guilty of having this idea that we're somehow invinsible, like we have all the time in the world..
I had my first experience of death a couple of months ago when my gran died, and it's had quite a profound affect on me. All of a sudden, death is a reality, and it's really got me thinking. Perhaps this seems morbid but its made me think about when I reach that time, how will I feel about the way I lived my life? Suddenly when you think like that the petty things don't matter anymore.. All of a sudden you want to invest your time into something worthwhile, something of value..
“Many people die with their music still in them. Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live…Before they know it…time runs out.” - One Tree Hill
How many of us want to reach our potential in life? I'm sure many people would say they want to, if asked that question. But how many people actually do? How many of us are held back by fear, doubt or just apathy? How many of us waste our energy on things that don't matter.. having petty arguments, holding grudges, gossping, worrying about a 'bad hair day', etc..
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favourite films (Gladiator) is :
'What we do in life, echoes in eternity'
And it's so true.. the decisions we make,the things we do, the stones we throw into the water, create ripples that carry on and on. It makes me wonder what my echoes will be. This realy harsh reality has suddenly hit me that, I get one life on this earth.. and one day it really will come to an end.
My dad has always encouraged me to enjoy every day, to make the most out of life; 'This is not a rehersal' he says. And as much as I've always known that, now I really know it. Coming face to face with death, and having that revelation of your own mortality is quite a hard thing to handle. It puts things into a whole new perseptive, sifts out all the insignificant rubbish and makes you see the core things that are really important in life.
Suddenly, being popular/centre of attention isn't important as being somebody who actually makes a difference in the world, suddenly pride takes a back seat as you tell the people in your life that you love them because, what if you don't get another chance to... all of a sudden the idea of having lots of money isn't as important as how you can use it to bless/help people.. or watching endless hours of T.V doesn't seem as appealing as going out and experiencing life for yourself! Fears of inadequecy, and fears of failure seem to diminish because at the end of the day, as long as you've given it your best shot, what does it really matter!?
So what do we do? Do we sit around, thinking about death all day, praying that God will give us a long life? Do we become wreckless, thinking only of ourselves, doing whatever we feel like whenever we feel like, acting on impulse just incase it's our last day? Do we refuse to ever watch T.V and wear ourselves out going everywhere and doing everything? No..
I was talking to a friend about this topic and after a few minutes of pondering I said to him, 'You know what? I think that if a doctor told me today that I only had a few years left to live, how much more would I actually live in those few years than I ever have in the past twenty?'
And I kinda think thats the way we should think.. . Just to sometimes take a step back.. put things into perspective.. Tell the person you love them, learn to dance, travel the world, write a book, learn an instrument, start your own business, join a charity, laugh untill your sides hurt, help the homeless man, go skydiving, dye your hair pink, run along the beach naked! haha! maybe not the last one =).. but just break free of all the stupid things you worry about or think are important...forget about certain things in the past.. have fun and make a difference..
Having such a revelation of death can make you feel depressed, anxious or sometimes hopeless. After all, we work and strive and then we die.. whats the point in it all? But I believe that if you're still here on earth, then God's put you here for a purpose.. that there's people lives you've gotta change, things you've got to do that can make a difference, a purpose there for you to fullfill.... but do we fulfill it? Or do we let fear/apathy get in the way?
I'm not trying to scare anybody or put a dampner on anyone's day with this blog. We shouldn't live in fear of death and we definatley shouldn't dwell on it all the time, it is just a part of life but I think that sometimes we (r at least I) become a little too complacent, and need a kick up the backside to get me to really appreciate life and make the most out of it..
It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.
- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Your life feels different on you, once you greet death and understand your heart's position. You wear your life like a garment from the mission bundle sale ever after -- lightly because you realize you never paid nothing for it, cherishing because you know you won't ever come by such a bargain again.
- Louise Erdrich
Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope.
- Tom Head
"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." — William W. Purkey
“Every song has a CODA, a final movement. Whether it fades out or crashes away. Every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music? The truth is, there is nothing to be afraid of. It's just life”
I had my first experience of death a couple of months ago when my gran died, and it's had quite a profound affect on me. All of a sudden, death is a reality, and it's really got me thinking. Perhaps this seems morbid but its made me think about when I reach that time, how will I feel about the way I lived my life? Suddenly when you think like that the petty things don't matter anymore.. All of a sudden you want to invest your time into something worthwhile, something of value..
“Many people die with their music still in them. Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live…Before they know it…time runs out.” - One Tree Hill
How many of us want to reach our potential in life? I'm sure many people would say they want to, if asked that question. But how many people actually do? How many of us are held back by fear, doubt or just apathy? How many of us waste our energy on things that don't matter.. having petty arguments, holding grudges, gossping, worrying about a 'bad hair day', etc..
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favourite films (Gladiator) is :
'What we do in life, echoes in eternity'
And it's so true.. the decisions we make,the things we do, the stones we throw into the water, create ripples that carry on and on. It makes me wonder what my echoes will be. This realy harsh reality has suddenly hit me that, I get one life on this earth.. and one day it really will come to an end.
My dad has always encouraged me to enjoy every day, to make the most out of life; 'This is not a rehersal' he says. And as much as I've always known that, now I really know it. Coming face to face with death, and having that revelation of your own mortality is quite a hard thing to handle. It puts things into a whole new perseptive, sifts out all the insignificant rubbish and makes you see the core things that are really important in life.
Suddenly, being popular/centre of attention isn't important as being somebody who actually makes a difference in the world, suddenly pride takes a back seat as you tell the people in your life that you love them because, what if you don't get another chance to... all of a sudden the idea of having lots of money isn't as important as how you can use it to bless/help people.. or watching endless hours of T.V doesn't seem as appealing as going out and experiencing life for yourself! Fears of inadequecy, and fears of failure seem to diminish because at the end of the day, as long as you've given it your best shot, what does it really matter!?
So what do we do? Do we sit around, thinking about death all day, praying that God will give us a long life? Do we become wreckless, thinking only of ourselves, doing whatever we feel like whenever we feel like, acting on impulse just incase it's our last day? Do we refuse to ever watch T.V and wear ourselves out going everywhere and doing everything? No..
I was talking to a friend about this topic and after a few minutes of pondering I said to him, 'You know what? I think that if a doctor told me today that I only had a few years left to live, how much more would I actually live in those few years than I ever have in the past twenty?'
And I kinda think thats the way we should think.. . Just to sometimes take a step back.. put things into perspective.. Tell the person you love them, learn to dance, travel the world, write a book, learn an instrument, start your own business, join a charity, laugh untill your sides hurt, help the homeless man, go skydiving, dye your hair pink, run along the beach naked! haha! maybe not the last one =).. but just break free of all the stupid things you worry about or think are important...forget about certain things in the past.. have fun and make a difference..
Having such a revelation of death can make you feel depressed, anxious or sometimes hopeless. After all, we work and strive and then we die.. whats the point in it all? But I believe that if you're still here on earth, then God's put you here for a purpose.. that there's people lives you've gotta change, things you've got to do that can make a difference, a purpose there for you to fullfill.... but do we fulfill it? Or do we let fear/apathy get in the way?
I'm not trying to scare anybody or put a dampner on anyone's day with this blog. We shouldn't live in fear of death and we definatley shouldn't dwell on it all the time, it is just a part of life but I think that sometimes we (r at least I) become a little too complacent, and need a kick up the backside to get me to really appreciate life and make the most out of it..
William Shakespeare compared life to an act.. 'All the world's a stage, all the men and women merely players; they have their thier exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.'
So when we take our final bow and the curtain closes how will we feel about the part we played. Were we the bad guy in the play or the hero? Did we put everything into our performance or just enough to get us by? Did we play a lead role or did we hide backstage, too scared to play a part? Did we laugh, cry, dance and sing? Or were we paralysed by fear? Would the audience appaulde, or would they be glad it's over? Cos the thing is, we only get to do one show...
Jesus said ' I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly' - John 10v10
I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.
- Diane Ackerman
It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.
- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Your life feels different on you, once you greet death and understand your heart's position. You wear your life like a garment from the mission bundle sale ever after -- lightly because you realize you never paid nothing for it, cherishing because you know you won't ever come by such a bargain again.
- Louise Erdrich
Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope.
- Tom Head
"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth." — William W. Purkey
“Every song has a CODA, a final movement. Whether it fades out or crashes away. Every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music? The truth is, there is nothing to be afraid of. It's just life”
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