Numbered

"Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts." Psalm 90:12 HCS

What would you do if you knew the time, place, & way you would die? The running joke is often, “I wouldn’t show up”! Well, it’s a given that we will. The thing is most of us spend a life of pursuits & diversions that often leave us empty when we come to the end of our days. Rarely will someone say, “Darn it! Wish I had spent more time at work.” Or, “Should have wasted more hours in front of the T.V.” No, most of us know deep down some of those really important things we should/could be doing. We just think, “Hey, I’ve got loads of time.”

I’ve gotta say, ministry has given me a front row seat in this theater of life. That’s really a poor analogy in that I’m right in the middle of it. No emotional detachment or distraction here. I’m right in the thick of it. As I’ve shared often, ‘ministry is messy.’ No, LIFE is messy. Guess what? I wouldn’t trade it in for a life twice as long filled with mundane, trivial pursuits.

A few weeks ago a friend had a heart attack. After days of struggle he stepped into eternity. Gotta tell you, we thought he was pulling through. We just knew God was going to give him a spiritual zap, or that, at the very least, doctors would do a procedure & he’d walk out his usually ornery self. Didn’t happen. He’s singing with the angels now.

Another friend received wonderful news that a cancer riddled son had a clean bill of health. Days later the other shoe dropped. The prognosis now is a month or more, apart from a miracle. (In his forties with two teenagers & wife looking on.)

Hold on, in case you think I’m spiraling down in a maudlin crash dive. In that same expanse of days came a baby announcement, wedding invitations, graduation announcements & GOOD doctor reports. Miracles happen along side of misery. One defines the other. If it all melded together the highs wouldn’t be the highs. You know what? Very few of us want to hit those craters though!

A friend has recently posted a list on facebook. It’s a litany of those from our school who are no longer with us. Some never made it out of high school. Some barely left college. Some died of natural cause or disease, though, ‘untimely’. Some were in tragic accidents, while others died at the hand of other individuals…or by their own hand. Sobering, to say the least. Many I didn’t realize had passed on. Even more troubling is that the list is growing as we find the fate of other friends.

So back to that question: given that life is brief & unpredictable, what WILL we do with these days? I don’t advocate you go take a sky diving class, or bungee jump, or enlist in some extreme sport to find an adrenaline rush or edge. I simply want to encourage each of us, self included, to ‘measure our days.’ Another bible translation says, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."
Psalm 90:12 NLT

When my Mom was given difficult news a few years back by her hemo oncologist she came unglued on the poor guy. He had said, in essence, “Mrs. Jackson you have… (two huge names of blood disorders that I won’t burdened you with) and with chemo treatment your prognosis is 10 years.” Her response, “You don’t know how long I’ll live! Only GOD knows how long I’ll live.” He said, “OK, OK, lady.12 years then!” Mom got it right. Our lives are in God’s hands. Doctors & specialist give a prognosis or best guess, but our next breath & heart beat are in the hands of our Creator. So, what will we do with them?

I choose to live life to its fullest. I pray for family & friends who are squandering these precious hours. In the time it took you to plow through this, seconds have passed that you’ll never have again. (Don’t get ticked at me, I was just trying to help encourage you!) We CAN’T help what’s passed. What lies around the next corner? Better yet, what corner will you take now?

So, let’s pause from this harsh reminder of the wall of impending death hurtling at us at light speed & go out and LIVE! If you’re not ready for that date with ‘judgment’ or struggling with a particular crater of a diagnosis or life issue, call or write me & we’ll pray together. While you’re at it, return the favor. I’m in this too!

http://www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport
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ASUN website http://www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com
Cell: 870-217-9376