A life that matters!

Did you ever have a coach or authority figure that you wanted to please so badly that you would do just about anything to make sure that they were satisfied?  I had a few of those that inspired me in sports, in the classroom and in life.

 

Over the past few weeks, I have been reminded about how limited and fragile our lives are on this earth.  I attended 3 funerals in the past 8 weeks, the last of which was a couple of weeks ago.  Through these services and graveside gatherings, I was reminded of the death of my grandfather, Elmer Due, in 1987.  I felt like my world stood still and it was confusing to me why other people seemed to carry on with life as usual.  The fragility of our lives here was hammered home by my participation in medical care of a young patient that was murdered, for amusement, on the streets of Duncan, OK. 

 

In America, I feel that it is far too easy to slip into a life of ease.  We have air conditioning, satellite tv, computers/phones in our pockets and machines to do most anything.  We don’t NEED much.  Sometimes I find myself tired from being busy, but I was busy doing close to nothing.

Instead of a life of ease, we should strive for a life that matters.  Have you heard the old song called “Thank you, for giving to the Lord”?  It describes people that a guy meets when he goes to heaven that are thanking him for living a life that matters.  They are in heaven because of various things that he had done during his life on earth, that pointed them to God.  What if your life was full of purpose and every day that you lived made a difference in the life of another?  What if you left changed lives in your wake as you navigated between the buoys of life?

I know families that are changing lives through foster care and adoption in Oklahoma.  I know a young lady that gave up a life of ease to care for orphaned children in Uganda.   I know people that volunteer much of their free time in juvenile prisons.  I know a woman that put a successful career on hold to give extra attention to a child that needed her attention at home.  These are just some examples of people that are living a life that matters.  A Godly man in Chickasha passed away in mid-October.  While discussing his life and the difference he made, a friend asked the question, “What could have Bill done to be a better man”.  No one could give him an answer.  That was a life that mattered.  I mentioned the death of my grandfather, and namesake of this blog, above.  He lived a life that mattered.  How do I know?  I was a part of that life and had first hand experience.  I also know that his life made a difference, to others, because of a couple of pictures forever etched on my mind’s eye.  The first is of a full auditorium for his memorial service at Immanuel Baptist Church in Duncan.  The second is the funeral processional that went from the church to Duncan cemetery.  Twenty six years later, I can still see the line of cars stretching down Bois d’ Arc from the cemetery, across highway 81, and as far up the street as I could see to the East.  He made a difference for that many people, most of which occurring right in the middle of Duncan, OK. 

Through supporters of Due Unto Others, our friend Kevin is getting burn treatment, surgeries, and physical therapy in Uganda.  He returned, to the hospital, last week and is getting surgeries on his neck and eyelids.  People, with a life that matters, are helping a boy to get the care he needs to live a life that matters.

As I stand at the end of my life, I want to be able to look back, without regrets, on a life that matters.  It makes perfect sense that I should give that “go through the wall effort” for the One that gave His life for me, just like I would for a coach.  If I give my best effort to please my maker, I should end up achieving my goal.

I apologize for having 4 months pass without updating the blog.

 

Jay