Impending Death

Lost a college friend Sunday. Steve was one of the kindest people
I've ever met. Haven't seen he or Bobbi since college but I can't
imagine the loss and pain she has now.

Seasons of life keep moving. I've watched myself and those who are in
the same age/ stage speak a lot about getting older. We look older,
feel older, make decisions like older people. But the new reality is
death. More of us are moving off the face of the earth.

More than ever I am aware of my death. One day the doctor will
pronounce the "C" word or somehow the day will appear on the horizon.
Getting older is one thing. Facing death is another. Facing death is
about eternity, facing the Lord. Getting older shapes decisions but
facing death goes deeper. Facing death is about wondering if my
family will be okay? Facing death stirs me to think about how I am
using my time and money and energy. Facing death I realize what I
thought was so important may not have been. Guess that's what Tim
Mcgraw reflected on in the song "Live Like You Were Dying".

I don't hear many talk about impending death. And only Jesus has come
back. But that is the hope, Jesus, forgiveness, eternity. Everyone
knows they are going to die but at least for me, for the first time, I
know it is true, sad but true. Eternity awaits, opened by the blood
of the savior and for that I am thankful. So my heart feels weird but
my mind reaches for scripture and the promises of God. The Lord lives!

Respect

Respect may be the first key to open the eyes of those far from God to
the wonder of the Lord. Respect comes as we live rightly, care about
others, make decisions in the way of the Lord. Disrespect distances
others from the God I serve. Small things like tipping the wait
staff, kindness in opening a door, choosing to be pleasant paves the
way for further questions and allows the Spirit to invoke questions in
the heart of others, questions like, "Why would that person do that
for me? What makes them different?"

2 of the most challenging places to earn respect are the home and
work. No wonder, the people in those places see us more often and
less guarded. They see what gets to us, what drives us, what we will
or will not engage in, talk about, etc. They see how we make choices
and why. They listen to how we talk about others.

Without respect the bridge to God is a bridge too far. Respect is
hard earned and quickly lost. I hope to do better here.