Live Like You Were Dying

Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw


That's right...starting with country music.  Right click on the main post title above and you can open the song lyrics and audio in a new tab or window.  I'm not a huge country music fan because of some lyrics and lifestyles they seem to glorify at times, but I caught this song on the radio the other day on my way home from work and I like it.  Been a while since I've heard it.  The point is to ask what would you do if didn't have many days left on this earth?  Good question.

Anytime I hear about untimely death I think about two great guys who I knew in high school that lost their lives in a horrible wreck with a stopped school bus.  Those of you I went to high school with know exactly who I am talking about.  I feel confident that those two left everything on the field.


As for me, I have a few things that I would like to do that I haven't done yet.  Travel to some historic sites.  Visit Hawaii (if I could bring myself to get on the plane).  Buy a motorcycle.  Play paintball (NO I have never played paintball!).  Nothing too crazy, but then again I'm not a huge risk taker anyway.


A bigger question then came to my mind when I heard this song: what have I not done in the past that I should have done.  Now that list may be a little longer.  How about you?  We can't let the past haunt us, but we can surely use it as motivation to do things a little better each day we're here on this earth.


Genesis 3:19 - "for dust you are and to dust you will return."


The thought of dying is a concept that it's hard to wrap your mind around.  I mean really...I won't be here anymore?  Some people are scared of the thought...some may not be scared, but sure wish they didn't have to leave this life.  There's a reason for that, in my opinion.  We were originally created to live in human form eternally with God the Father.  Problem was that there were a couple of folks who messed that plan up for us all...but that's another story.  We are all dying.  Some faster...some slower...but we're all dying.  That is the way of things.  To quote my favorite series of movies ever: Luke Skywalker- "Master Yoda, you can't die."  Yoda - "Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong."  So shouldn't we already be living each day like we're dying?  Why should we wait for bad news from a doctor, or until we survive a bad car wreck, etc.? 


Now the question is how does that change our outlook, purpose, etc.?  Or does it?  You may already be doing things perfectly, but as for me...I need to make some improvements.  I need to tell and show people that I love them more.  I need to take advantage of opportunities that are given to me and not analyze them to death.  I need to try and meet the needs of hurting people around me...it doesn't matter if I know them or not.  I need to pray more.  I need to appreciate the freedoms I have because who knows when they may cease to exist.  I need to quit stopping God from accomplishing His goals by hesitating or saying no.


So, since you don't know exactly when your time is up, are you living like you are dying?  Or are there changes you need to make?  Well?  I'm waiting...