Photo by Daily World Buzz
As people have been counting down for the New Year, I just had a thought. There are a lot of things that we count down for on a regular – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, vacation, and etc. But not all countdowns elicit the same response.
When I think about the countdown for our family’s return to the States, it brings out a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, I think it is going to be very emotional for me as I think about leaving a lot of things here. God has been doing some incredible things and I want to continue to be a part of it in the frontlines. Even with all the wonderful people I have met (and going to meet), it will be hard knowing that I will not be able to see them in a weekly or even a bi-weekly basis.
But then, with the things that have to be accomplished back in Ann Arbor and also reconnecting with some of the people that we have built relationships with over the years, the outlook of what is to come prepares us for the transition.
I was also thinking about my mortality. I am always wondering if every New Year will be the last year for me here on this earth. This is not the kind of thing that we normally want to be thinking about, but it is a reality.
What if we knew exactly when our departure from this earth will be? In the Bible, King David said, “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath” (Ps 39:4-5).
With each passing breath, we know that it is a step closer to our death. For some reason, this puts a passion in me. Not only because of the reality of seeing Jesus face-to-face, but having a desire to fulfill God’s purposes in me.
Even though we do not have the luxury of knowing when we will pass away, we can live every day as if it was our last. It will completely change our perspective. It will help prioritize what is important. It will help us live dependently on God.
The year 2010 will have many new things in store for us, but we just don’t know the exact time of when those things will come. This is why living a life of a Christ-follower is about living by faith and trust. It makes it more fun.