“…for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair”
Proverbs 1:3
Come with me in your imagination to the funeral of a loved one.
Picture yourself driving to the funeral parlor or the church, parking
your car and getting out. As you walk inside the building, notice the
flowers and the soft organ music. See the faces of friends and family
as you move through the room. Feel the shared sorrow of losing
and the joy of having known that radiates from the hearts of the people
there.
As you walk to the front of the room and look inside the casket,
you come face to face with yourself. This is your funeral, five years
from today. All these people have come to honor you and to express
feelings of love and appreciation for your life. As you take a seat and
wait for the service to begin, you look at the program in your hand.
Five persons will speak. The first speaker is from your family, immediate
and extended—your children, brothers, sisters, nephews,
nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents who have come
from all over the country to attend. The second speaker is to be one
of your friends, someone who can give a sense of what you were as
a person. The third speaker is from your work or profession. The
fourth speaker is from your church or some community organization
where you were involved in service. The fifth and final speaker is
your spouse.
Now think deeply. What would you like each of these speakers
to say about you and your life? What kind of husband or wife, father
or mother would you like their words to reflect? What kind of son or
daughter or cousin? What kind of friend or working associate?
Take a few minutes to seriously consider these questions. I
firmly believe that the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life…
life that fails to fulfill its purpose and potential.
The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life…life that fails to fulfill its purpose and potential.
