11-29-21<\/p>\n
This essay might change your life, or many things about your life \u2013 your priorities, decisions, preoccupations.<\/p>\n
Or, of course, not: I do not pretend that any thoughts of mine would have that effect on anyone. I mean my thoughts alone. But I do eavesdrop on God, so to speak, and take note, and notes, on what He said in His Word.<\/p>\n
Have you thought about what your last moments of life might be like, if you \u201cpass away\u201d quietly? Perhaps strange, but I never really have \u2013 and here I invite you to do the same, especially if you never seriously<\/em> have done so. It might, as I have suggested, cause you to make some life-adjustments.<\/p>\n I will suggest scenarios that might be easy to imagine.<\/p>\n Will an active, successful business owner think back on the deals he could have made; maybe one more sale or acquisition?<\/p>\n Will a sports enthusiast or athlete regret the one game or match that might have been won; that a little more practice might have meant another trophy?<\/p>\n Will a mom or dad think back in sadness over home remodeling that never was finished, landscaping plans unfulfilled, the car or vacation that didn\u2019t happen?<\/p>\n Will a hobbyist regret the collectibles that never were bought? Will someone with \u201cwanderlust\u201d spend the last breath sad about never seeing Paris? Will a politician regret that one more law was not passed when there was a chance? Will the accountant or lawyer or doctor be bitter over not designing that new promotion that might have attracted new clients?<\/p>\n I think all these answers would be NO. And if any would be yes<\/em>, please join me in feeling pity for lives that conclude with such regrets. And let us pray, further, that you and I die with no regrets of these kinds.<\/p>\n More probable, however \u2013 and this should sadden us all \u2013 is that many of us, in our last moments, might indeed have regrets of some sorts. But they would not be things of this world, because the list we just imagined would make little difference in the world, or, ultimately, those peoples\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n What are the things many of us might regret in our last moments?<\/p>\n The extra times we could have told our children we loved them\u2026 or hugged our parents more often\u2026 or spent those additional times, or made phone calls, to parents and kids\u2026 or told someone we forgave them\u2026 or asked, sincerely, that someone forgive us\u2026 or materially assisted someone instead of \u201cthinking good thoughts,\u201d or letting the government take care of, well, everything\u2026 or helped a troubled teen or an abused mom\u2026 or withheld judgment when a hurting person needed an \u201cear\u201d\u2026 or encouraged a child\u2026 or shared an experience of yours that might have brightened someone\u2019s day\u2026 or actually prayed with someone instead of saying \u201cI\u2019ll pray for you\u201d\u2026 or really asking God to bless someone instead of mouthing \u201cGod bless\u201d in their direction\u2026<\/p>\n God forbid if any of these<\/em> regrets are things you would recall in your last moments.<\/p>\n Maybe people, maybe even family members or neighbors, are precisely those who populate lost opportunities. Strangers, too; you would not know\u2026 but God does.<\/p>\n He knows. And He has a plan for each of us that we can, and should, seek to know. He has a will for our lives. What we might realize at the \u201cend\u201d are things He knew all along \u2013 the things that are important, and things we should have known were not so important. As the song \u201cUntil Then\u201d said \u2013 The things of earth will dim and lose their value; Just remember, they’re only borrowed for awhile.<\/em><\/p>\n