He promised his son they would camp out all night,
Get up very early before it was light,
And go to the lake where the hungry fish bite.
But he put off the trip for the plan wasn't right.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He promised his wife they would soon get away
For a week, or a night, or just part of a day,
To rekindle the love they had let go astray.
But his work for the present left no time for play.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He promised his daughter he'd teach her to ski.
When he bought snow equipment, she shouted with glee.
Each year as she dreamed that the ski slopes she'd see,
Her skis gathered dust -- on deaf ears fell her plea.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He vowed to his parents he'd visit them more,
And offer his help with a much needed chore.
They lovingly looked for his face at the door,
And grieved when his absence went on as before.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
He thought that one day when his life was more slow,
He'd find a good church where he wanted to go,
And learn from the Bible the things he should know,
While talent and goods on the poor he'd bestow.
After all -- he had plenty of time.
His death came before some folks thought it was due,
And it shocked all his family, and friends that he knew.
So they buried him high on a hill with a view,
To watch through the seasons as life starts anew.
After all -- he has plenty of time.
By Betty Jo Mings
How many times do you catch yourself saying "I'll start on this or that tomorrow"? The approach of a new year got me thinking about this since it is always a new beginning, a time of making resolutions for the future . . . a benchmark to start a new project, get healthy . . . as a society, most of us do it ritually.
The realism of lives cut short hit home again for The Captain and me in the past couple of months . . . those people in our lives whose time ran out without warning.
One, a seemingly healthy man in his early 50's got up one morning, washed his boat, came inside to take a shower, collapsed and died of a sudden heart attack. Just like that his life was over without warning. Most of his family members didn't even get to say goodbye . . . there wasn't enough time. A successful man of means whose money couldn't buy him the time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Time . . . something we all perceive we have plenty of.
Another . . . a troubled and lost 40-something confirmed bachelor who drifted through life with a free spirit attitude, possessing a lust for life that many of us would envy. He was a blue-collar construction worker afflicted with pains from an old injury. His doctor prescribed all the meds he needed for pain management. After a night of partying on Thanksgiving Eve, he peacefully passed away in his sleep as his mom cooked Thanksgiving dinner in the other room. Drug overdose . . . he stretched the limits of mixing drugs and alcohol just like so many others do every day. His time of pushing those limits ran out.
This post is not intended to be morbid or a downer . . . take it as an inspiration to celebrate life to the fullest every single day that you are blessed with.
The one thing in life that is an absolute . . .
no one escapes time running out.
