This time a year ago I was going through a pretty nasty health problem; I got pneumonia, which I often do, that went septic. Nobody could really describe why this happened, but it is a dangerous situation that, if not caught in time, can often lead to death. Obviously, I didn’t die, but I did end up in the ER three times and the hospital twice – once in the ICU. I got tremendous care from the staff at Reading Hospital, and by April I was fully recovered. Why it happened, nobody knows – but lots of people had advice. “Take better care of yourself” or “You need to slow down” were the two favorites; honestly, septic shock, as far as anyone knows, doesn’t happen for any logical or obvious reasons. We want reasons, though; we want to find answers and – let’s be honest – we like to place the blame for bad things that happen.
Today is the funeral service for Dr. Corey Jones. I knew Corey a little from his being principal when my daughter went to school there and from talking to him when he would stop at wrestling practice and matches; I was a volunteer for a number of years. He died of cancer at the young age of 50. He was smart, kept himself in great shape, and was admired by everyone who knew him. I was glad my school district hired him – he was the kind of adult our kids needed to see when they showed up for school. He was strict but fair, and he didn’t put up with nonsense. He, like every person who gets cancer, fought to live, working and living until the very end. There will be a lot of people who will say trite things like, “Everything happens for a reason” and “God needed him more than you did”. It doesn’t, and God didn’t. Sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason – sometimes, sh*t just happens.
There are some deaths and injuries that have a source. If you drink and drive 100 miles an hour, chances are you will kill yourself and others. If you smoke every day, chances are you will get some form of cancer. Those deaths have a reason, but if we aren’t lucky enough to make it to a ripe old age, there is, more often than not, no rhyme or reason. God doesn’t strike us dead. There is no set date we will die. We don’t get born or die on a specific date because God decides it’s time. No rhyme – no reason – mostly chaos and happenstance – and bad luck. Since we can’t control everything, and we don’t know what the future brings, I can only think of one answer – live. Live today for others. Live today as fully and joyfully as you can. Jesus knew that nobody knows what tomorrow brings, so live. Don’t exist – don’t procrastinate – don’t make excuses. Live. Live so that people will be thankful you drew breath. Live so the world you leave is better than the world you inherited. Live so that someone you barely knew will be grateful and write about you. Stop your complaining and whining and kvetching, and live. Because if you don’t live now, you will never get another chance. Live.
Prayer – Holy God, we are grateful that You have given us a beautiful life to live. No matter how long it is, help us find purpose and make our lives amazing. Amen.
Today’s art is by Andrew Godina, the artist behind many of the “Life is Good” images.