IF TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY!

I am preaching a series of sermons on Sundays in June at The Lighthouse Church called "One Month To Live." Besides its thoughts coming from the pages of the Bible-the theme of my messages is based on a book out that has become a New York Times best seller that encourages its readers to face their own mortality and live life to the fullest. Many churches across America are talking about the same thing! What would you do if you knew you had one month to live? How and would you live any differently than you are now? And if you would do it then- why don't you do it now- before it becomes a crisis or wait until it is too late?

As I have been preparing for these talks, my mind has been filled with a myriad of questions, reflections and perspectives. Today I probably will ask more than answer. I intend to stir more than settle. My humble desire is to get everyone who reads this to make a conscious decision to engage in the day that is before us now and to stop being paralyzed by a past that none of us can change or frightened by a future that none of us have control over! But here is something that every one of us can do something about and that has to do with what we will do with TODAY!

If today was my last day would I want to surround myself in the company with the money that I could have saved if I switched to Geico or would I rather be with the people that I love? Are the words that are truly in my heart getting to the point where they come out of my mouth to the ears that really need to hear them while they can? I might know that God loves me but have I told Him lately how much I love Him? When was the last time I actually did something today rather than saving it for the quite obscure someday? Is my pride literally getting in the way of allowing my feelings to come through loud and clear?

If today was my last day wouldn't I long to say "I love you" to as many as I can as often as I can? Wouldn't I rather go out fishing with my pals in the open air than fight with them in a stuffy office? Would I play catch with my boys? Would I tell my daughters how much I delight in them? Would I walk with my wife a little longer and let my kiss linger well beyond the quick obligatory peck on the cheek?

And what about giving forgiveness a chance to rid my spirit of any loitering poisonous bitterness? Wouldn't I rather pray now than pay later? Am I hoarding something that I should be giving away now while I can rather than wrapping my arms around something I can't take with me anyway? And why would I want to send flowers to a body that can't appreciate it when the same gesture could light up some body's life tonight?

If today was my last day would I finally wear and use and do those things that I've been saving for much too long for that special occasion? What constitutes a special occasion anyway? How many occasions go by that we didn't even realize were special until after the fact? When will we realize that if we dwell too long in the past and wander too far into the future- we have no chance to receive the gifts that are the present?

Listen to me! Look at me! Do you hear me? Do you see me? Will you slow down so you can notice? Can you put down your work for a minute? Wouldn't you do so if you knew you only had an hour left to live? Or would you work your laptop, your blackberry and your i-phone right up until the very last second attempting to hold on to and pull strings that are way beyond your grasp? Is your business something that should be none of your business? And what matters most when it comes to the most that matters?

I long to live everyday like it was my last day. I know it sounds trite, but it truly is my goal. I long to start and begin each day by pledging my dependence upon God for I have come to know personally and experientially that there is no life apart from knowing and being with Him. I long to move and breathe and operate in such the way that everyone who knows me will understand that I regard relationships as the reason that I am here! I don't use people to accomplish projects! Projects are just a great way to work with and be with people! I am not into making my life a soliloquy. This is not a solo act- it is a company of family!

If today was my last day- then I want my life to shout out that to be loved and to love was why I was here. How I do in that department will determine whether my life was just spent is a daze or whether my days were invested into a life!

I close today with some quotes from Professor Morrie Schwartz who was the subject of that wonderful book "Tuesdays with Morrie..." He said
"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning..."
"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let love come in."

Love God and love one another and make sure you unwrap each day as the precious gift that it is- and if this is your last day-go out with a big bang that will still make noise into eternity!!! Shalom!