Take The Time

This post will probably not be like any of my previous posts, and likely will not be like any future posts. However, I really feel this needs to be said.

Let’s pause for a moment. No, this isn’t an anniversary of some great, or even of a horrible event. But I want to share some thoughts, and perhaps challenge your world view.

To establish a baseline for agreeable facts, I want to point out that everyone reading this post will eventually die. It’s a fact. This sobering fact should cause us to consider carefully what we do with the few years we have. No, I’m not trying to sell you insurance. I am not selling anything. I want give away my perspective. If it proves valuable to you, all the better.

Since life is short, what is meaningful and worthwhile to do, or to be? I propose that our view has been twisted by society. We are often presented people that we are told are successful. But, at what? And how do we measure success? I propose to you that the societal definition is wrong, and will lead you to waste many years of your life chasing what has, at best, secondary value.

Here is my proposal to you. We have no value in this life, beyond what we can contribute to the lives of others, and to future generations. What does that mean? Well, it means that our focus should perhaps shift slightly. Perhaps we should reorganize our priorities. If each of us pushes ourselves and our families to make the most money possible, but fail to establish meaningful relationships with our own children to teach them right from wrong, what have we gained? If we delay having children, or limit our children because “we can’t afford it”, and continue to have a “two income family” for decades so that we can afford the nicer house, what do we really gain? If we can’t leave behind us a generation better than ours… if we can’t leave a more moral, upright, and honest generation than ours… if we can’t say with pride, “I am glad the future is in their hands,” then what have we really gained?

In the rush for quick gratification, whether in relationships, money, work, we buy our temporary happiness on credit with very high interest, rather than working to build meaningful relationships, meaningful job skills, meaningful and lasting wealth.

So I encourage you to pause and take stock of your life. No, I’m not saying that you should make rash changes, but I AM saying that we all should always be periodical evaluating ourselves to ensure that our life trajectory is tracking to our goals. I am suggesting that you ensure the goals you have selected are worth the effort.

Call your parents today and tell them you love them. Call your children. Call your siblings. Smile at your coworker. Teach your children that doing the right thing is its own reward, and that the honest person can sleep easier. Hug your spouse. Take some time to thank God for the things we have in our lives. Think long and hard about what we are leaving behind us.