“Life is short” has become cliché for many of us. But, that is the truth in so many ways. Either we are closely affected by our experience of brevity in someone we closely know & love dearly or we get to face brevity ourselves when an occurrence threatens our expectations of a long or short life. Thus, we are bound to face the reality of this sooner or later.
I candidly remember when our family had an accident on the motorway which involved a ‘flying’ car which was missiled in our direction from the opposite traffic. In an exclamation: “Fred!” rather than “Darl” as my mum would usually call him, my dad, I remember stones, other artefacts glass piercing the brand new Land Cruiser, barely two months old, while my dad swerved swiftly to the next lane. Be mindful that right behind us there was a saloon car indicating to overtake. In effect, upon swerving, the missiled oncoming vehicle swept away the car right behind us off the motorway. Sadly, lives were lost in that car. A young lad supposed to write his BECE in appropriately a couple of months was left unconscious. We were largely safe except I inhaled a few particulates of glass for which the doctors were able to sort out rather easily. That scene left me with a memory of the crushing brevity of life.
When I started university, not long afterwards my dad fell ill. Being 18 at the time & the first child, I felt the burden of what losing a father could look like. It often felt challenging when you couldn’t see improvement in his condition. My dad became well, is still alive and joyously well 13 plus years later. Despite further emerging health challenges along the line, this demonstrates that we will face the stark reality of the brevity of life with each life’s situation that brings that.
In my own experience, I’ve largely enjoyed a comfortable healthy life, until recent health diagnosis indicating a possible fatal outcome arising from an existing diagnosis. At that point, I sincerely did not feel sad for myself, but had those feelings for those who have cared deeply about me & shared their love with me one way or another. The feeling brings you face to face with yourself, God’s aspirations for your life and a mindfulness of those you truly have affection for: your family, your friends, etc. It made me think, what truly matters? What mark did I leave in this world? Have I demonstrated true love & commitment to those dear to me? Have I walked the path God called me to? What good & bad secrets might come out in the event I’m not alive to either sway opinion or defend myself? Did I live my life fulfilling all my potential with integrity & sincerity?
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. 12 For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
In conclusion, before you get face to face with a situation that challenges your expectations in life expectancy, remember those you love & love them well, live a life that truly pleases God, live life as truthfully as possible or at least don’t lie, leave a legacy that will inspire those yet alive & lastly don’t be foolishly confident in yourself, your resources & health which can all fail but place trust in God who raises the dead and turns ‘unturnable’ situations around.