Numbering Our Days

This week has provided us all with a jarring reminder of the fragility of life. What began as a day of celebration and athletic accomplishment ended in horror as another cowardly act of terrorism pierced our bubble and destroyed lives. We’re reminded once again that we are all vulnerable. 

The answer isn’t to live in fear, or to give up pursuing the activities we love. Certainly, we need to be wise and alert. But I believe Psalm 139:16: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” And if that’s the case, worrying about what might happen is futile. I could live to be 100 or I could be in a car accident on the way to the grocery store. Only the Lord knows. So instead of fretting, I’m going to focus on living out my “dash” with passion and purpose.

Hopefully, one positive lesson that can come from Monday is that we should “live ready.” What if today were your last? Would your loved ones have something in writing that expressed your love for them and your belief in them? If not, why not? 

Most of us have lost someone dear to us. And we quickly realize after a person is gone that the ways we remember them are via memories, photographs, “stuff,” and their written word. When you’re on the receiving end, you quickly realize how priceless things in writing are from that loved one.

If I could ask you…even beg you…please take the time to write letters to the special people in your life! It’s not hard. It doesn’t have to be eloquent. But it is so important.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I’ve lived over 20,000 days already! Lots of days consumed with the tyranny of the urgent. Things that really didn’t matter. But I’ll always be thankful for the time I’ve spent on the truly important. Loving God. Loving others. And leaving nothing unsaid.