Death - Motivating Factor

In this season of 'thanks-giving' and particularly this year I have a lot of different questions I am asking and thoughts I am considering. My thanks and my gratitude for the people, experiences and things I've written about through this newspaper column have been honest expressions, genuine thoughts and comments. When we have conversations with our friends and family there are many things we talk about. One subject that is most often avoided at all cost is death. This topic is difficult for folks to think about, much less talk about. 32 years in ministry has filled my life with many experiences of family, friends and situations where I didn't know the individuals now facing this moment and hour in life. As a motivational speaker and preacher I have both heard the expression used by others in speaking to groups and I have used the question, "If you knew you only had x number of days to live what would you do?" Now the question may not seem very motivating to some of you reading this column but the design of the question probes our thoughts what would we do different if we knew we truly only had x number of days to live? With this thought what 'thing' needs to be fixed, what needs to be 'said' to whom, what issue should be 'settled', what conflict 'resolved', what answer 'given'? In the early years of my ministry I remember being called by a family to the bedside of a loved one. When I arrived the doctor and nurses were present performing medical procedures. It appeared every thing that could be done was being done but to no avail in prolonging life or defeating earth's last breath. The two daughters and I had stepped out of the hospital room for a moment when the doctor walked to where we were and said, "we've done all we can do". Walking back into that room with those girls I will never forget the earthly feeling of hopelessness felt. Their father was still alive but ability was no longer available, opportunity had vanished in time and there were no words to be spoken and no actions taken that could add anything to life's existence. It was at that very moment that my life changed and remains changed until I take my last breath here on earth. Live while you can, go while you are able, experience while you feel, because there is a time when you will want to do all of these and so much more, but time will have robbed you of opportunity. Life expectancy is again that subject or topic that folks do not want to think about, much less talk about. Me however, it is a motivating factor of life. My favorite life expectancy calculator is the one sponsored by the Social Security Administration on their website. I prefer this resource tool over other sites that provide calculators, charts and graphs for several reasons. One of those reasons is that no life expectancy tool can account for life style, habits, health or other such related facts. Given that truth, the Social Security site does provide options based upon their data complied and I have options with their life expectancy tool. For example: Given my date of birth I have already passed the 50.2 year mark which means I have a life expectancy of 32.1 years remaining. Any day I live past 82 years and 3 month will be a blessing! (My way of thinking) On the flip side of that, I have 32 years and 1 month to get what I am going to get accomplished completed. Honestly, that is not much time at all. I am feeling the pressure to get things done, said, resolved and answered already! The age milestones within the Social Security Administration are: 62; 67; and 70; If I make it to year 70 then on average my blessings will be any day past 86 years and 6 months. A memorial service for me in March of 2050 doesn't sound like a bad time of year and the year 2050 has a solidness I like. No one likes talking or planning for death. Myself, I am using the facts of life as a motivating gift from the Social Security Administration. I am using life as a gift from God and using the opportunity and ability of time today to do all I can, when I can, where I can and while I can. Ultimately God is in-charge. I am on borrowed time. I pray everyday of my life serves as a witness of His mercy and grace in my-life and His love and plan for your life. Until then