Every morning that we wake up is a gift…another day that we do not necessarily deserve. The proverbial bus could come along at any time and end our life. What would we leave behind? I lost a dear friend to COVID this week. I still cannot believe that my friend, Jim, is no longer on this earth. The wonderful (and not surprising) thing is that the legacy he leaves is tremendous. A loving husband, father, and brother. A teacher loved by his students, and a colleague who served as the moral compass for many in the profession. Yes, Jim did not expect his life would end from this insidious virus, and even though his life is gone too early, his life was well-lived.
In Mark 13 there are a series of parables that Jesus shares with his disciples. Verses 32-33 reads, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” In the parable, a man is going on a journey. Before leaving, he “gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert” (Mark 13:34). Jesus is telling the disciples to be watchful, to stay alert…be ready. There are a lot of things in our lives that we are prepared for just in case. Wearing seatbelts, changing the batteries in the smoke alarms…but what about our spirit?
We must keep our spirit in shape. Perhaps we need to step up our time in prayer and devotion. Maybe we need to find ways to serve others or give back to our community. Approach each new day as a time to serve our God. When our hearts and spirits are in place, whenever the moment comes for us to meet our Creator, we will be welcomed with open arms.